PM Modi directs ISRO to land on the moon by 2040

India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has announced ambitious plans to expand the country’s space activities, including sending its first astronaut to the moon by 2040 and establishing a native space station by 2035.

Chandrayaan-3 Lunar Mission

• Following the success of the Chandrayaan-3 lunar probe, India is gearing up for lunar exploration.

Delay in Space Station Plans

• Originally, India aimed to have its own space station by 2022, but technical issues and the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays.

Roadmap for Moon Exploration

• India is developing a roadmap for moon exploration, which includes building a next-generation launch vehicle, constructing a new launch pad, and creating human-centric laboratories and associated technologies.

Gaganyaan Mission

• The Gaganyaan mission, expected in 2025, plans to launch three crew members into orbit for three days.

Private Sector Participation

• India’s space sector opened up to private companies in 2020, leading to the growth of over 150 space tech startups and increased foreign investments.

Space Policy and Clarity on Investments

• India introduced a space policy to guide collaboration between public and private entities but is seeking clarity on foreign direct investments.

Interplanetary Missions

• Modi encourages Indian scientists to undertake interplanetary missions, including a Venus Orbiter Mission and a Mars Lander.

International Collaboration

• India signed NASA’s Artemis Accords for space exploration, and NASA will provide advanced training to Indian astronauts and send them to the International Space Station in 2024.

Low-Earth Orbit Observatory

• ISRO and NASA plan to launch a low-Earth orbit observatory in 2024 to map the Earth’s ecosystems, ice mass, vegetation biomass, sea level, and natural disasters.

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