India Sets Bold Space Ambitions
India is gearing up for a thrilling new chapter in its space odyssey, with eyes set firmly on Mars, Venus, and even the Moon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in a powerful address to the Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX-2025).
India Sets Bold Space Ambitions
In a pre-recorded message played at the prestigious event co-hosted by the International Astronautical Federation and ISRO, PM Modi declared that India is “marching ahead with renewed confidence” and reaffirmed ambitious milestones: a space station of its own by 2035 and an Indian astronaut setting foot on the Moon by 2040.
India Sets Bold Space Ambitions
“Space is not just a destination. It is a declaration of curiosity, courage, and collective progress,” Modi said. “India’s space journey reflects this spirit. It’s not a race with others—but a shared mission for the good of humanity.”
Mars, Venus on the Horizon
India isn’t stopping at the Moon. The Prime Minister revealed that Mars and Venus are now on India’s radar for upcoming interplanetary missions, signalling a growing ambition that goes far beyond Earth’s orbit.
Gaganyaan, Axiom, and Global Collaborations
PM Modi also highlighted India’s first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, targeted for launch in early 2027, calling it a symbol of the country’s soaring aspirations.
India Sets Bold Space Ambitions
But before that, an Indian astronaut will reach the International Space Station later this month as part of the Axiom-4 mission, a collaboration between ISRO and NASA. Shubhanshu Shukla, along with three international astronauts, will spend 14 days aboard the ISS starting May 29—a historic first for India.
A Journey of Firsts
India’s space story has been filled with historic achievements:
- The first nation to reach Mars on its maiden attempt (2014).
- The first to land near the Moon’s South Pole with Chandrayaan-3.
- Chandrayaan-1’s discovery of water on the Moon.
- Chandrayaan-2 delivering the highest-resolution images of the lunar surface.
India Sets Bold Space Ambitions
India has also launched over 400 satellites for 34 countries, built cryogenic engines in record time, and even docked two satellites in space this year marking a major technological leap.
A Shared Mission for Humanity
Reiterating India’s role as a responsible global space power, PM Modi mentioned initiatives like the South Asia Satellite and the upcoming G20 Satellite, positioned as a gift to the Global South.
“Our rockets don’t just carry payloads, they carry the dreams of 1.4 billion Indians,” Modi said with pride. “India’s space story proves that the human spirit can defy gravity.”
