Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid out ambitious new milestones for the nation's space programme, announcing that India plans to establish its own space station by 2035 and send an astronaut to the Moon by 2040.
Speaking at the International Space Summit, the Prime Minister detailed the roadmap for the country's next phase of exploration. The announcements signal a major leap forward for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as it looks beyond unmanned missions and lunar orbiters toward sustained human presence in space.
Expanding Horizons: Space Station by 2035
The core of the newly announced timeline centers on the creation of an indigenous space station, targeted for completion by 2035. According to reports, the initiative forms a foundational pillar of India's long-term cosmic strategy.
While specific architectural details of the station remain sparse in early reports, the goal places India among an elite group of spacefaring nations capable of maintaining permanent orbital infrastructure. Alongside the orbital station, the roadmap includes a definitive push toward lunar exploration, with a targeted crewed landing on the Moon by 2040.
Celebrating ISRO's Global Footprint
Addressing the summit, Prime Minister Modi also highlighted ISRO's growing commercial and diplomatic footprint in the global aerospace sector. The Prime Minister noted that over 430 satellites from 34 countries have successfully travelled aboard Indian rockets to date. This robust track record underpins India's argument that it is a reliable, cost-effective partner for international scientific collaboration.