by Ashis Sinha
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has officially approved the construction of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), marking India’s ambitious entry into space station development for scientific research. Currently, the only operational space stations are the US-led International Space Station and China’s Tiangong.
Key Developments
Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS-1): The Cabinet has sanctioned the development of the first module, BAS-1, along with missions designed to validate the technologies needed for building and operating the space station. This initiative will be integrated into the revised Gaganyaan programme, which aims to complete eight missions by December 2028.
Gaganyaan Programme: Initially approved in December 2018, the Gaganyaan programme is focused on achieving human spaceflight to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and supporting future Indian space exploration. The plan includes operationalizing the Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and launching a crewed lunar mission by 2040.
Funding: The revised Gaganyaan programme, managed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has received enhanced funding totaling Rs 20,193 crore.
This significant development underscores India’s commitment to advancing its space capabilities and participating actively in the global space research arena.
