Marking a major step in its space ambitions, India is preparing to build and launch its own space station, moving towards long-term human presence in space.
The country plans to launch the first module of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) by 2028. The project has been approved by the Union Cabinet and will be developed under an expanded Gaganyaan program. The first module, BAS-01, is currently under development at ISRO and is estimated to cost ₹1,763 crore.
The Bharatiya Antariksh Station will be designed as a modular system with 5 interconnected units. Its overall design has already been cleared by a national-level committee, marking a key milestone in India’s human spaceflight programme.
ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre has invited Indian industries to participate in building structural components of the first module through an Expression of Interest, aiming to increase domestic involvement in the project.
The station will support advanced capabilities such as rendezvous and docking, robotic operations, in-orbit refueling, and dedicated crew quarters. It will also include specialised racks for microgravity experiments.
This initiative represents India’s shift from short-duration human space missions to a sustained presence in low Earth orbit (LEO).
The Bharatiya Antariksh Station is expected to boost India’s scientific and commercial capabilities. It will enable research in life sciences, pharmaceuticals, material sciences, and advanced manufacturing, which benefit from microgravity conditions.
Once operational, BAS will place India among a select group of countries with independent space station capabilities. It will reduce reliance on international platforms and open new opportunities for research and commercial activities in space.
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