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Calling the approval of the development of the first unit of the Bharatiya Anatriksh Station "great news," Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the landmark decision of the Union Cabinet brings India closer to a self-sustained space by 2035 and paves the way for a crewed moon mission by 2040.
Earlier today, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi approved the building of the first unit of the Bharatiya Anatriksh Station by extending the scope of the Gaganyaan program. "Great news for the space sector! The Union Cabinet has approved the first step towards the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), expanding the Gaganyaan programme! This landmark decision brings us closer to a self-sustained space station by 2035 and a crewed lunar mission by 2040!" PM Modi posted on X. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1836385916337651856 The approval by the cabinet is given for the development of the first module of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS-1) and undertaking missions to demonstrate and validate various technologies for building and operating BAS. To revise the scope and funding of the Gaganyaan Programme to include new developments for BAS and precursor missions, and additional requirements to meet the ongoing Gaganyaan Programme. Revision in the Gaganyaan Programme to include the scope of development and precursor missions for BAS, and factoring one additional uncrewed mission and additional hardware requirement for the developments of the ongoing Gaganyaan Programme. Now the human spaceflight program of technology development and demonstration is through eight missions to be completed by December 2028 by launching the first unit of BAS-1, the Cabinet stated. The Gaganyaan Programme approved in December 2018 envisages undertaking human spaceflight to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and laying the foundation of technologies needed for an Indian human space exploration programme in the long run. The vision for space in the Amrit kaal envisages including other things, the creation of an operational Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and an Indian Crewed Lunar Mission by 2040. All leading space-faring nations are making considerable efforts & investments to develop and operationalize capabilities that are required for long-duration human space missions and further exploration to the Moon and beyond. The Gaganyaan Programme will be a national effort led by ISRO in collaboration with Industry, Academia and other national agencies as stakeholders. The programme will be implemented through the established project management mechanism within ISRO. The target is to develop and demonstrate critical technologies for long-duration human space missions. To achieve this goal, ISRO will undertake four missions under the ongoing Gaganyaan Programme by 2026 and the development of a first module of BAS & four missions for demonstration & validation of various technologies for BAS by December 2028. The nation will acquire essential technological capabilities for human space missions to Low Earth Orbit. A national space-based facility such as the Bharatiya Antariksh Station will boost microgravity-based scientific research & technology development activities. This will lead to technological spin-offs and encourage innovations in key areas of research and development. Enhanced industrial participation and economic activity in the human space programme will result in increased employment generation, especially in niche high-technology areas in space and allied sectors. With a net additional funding of Rs 11,170 crore in the already approved programme, the total funding for the Gaganyaan Programme with the revised scope has been enhanced to Rs 20193 crore. This programme will provide a unique opportunity, especially for the youth of the country to take up careers in the field of science and technology as well as pursue opportunities in microgravity-based scientific research & technology development activities. The resulting innovations and technological spin-offs will be benefitting the society at large. (ANI)
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