Page 13 - NIS English 16-31 July,2025

Title tite | NATION
Spac e Flight | NA TION

India on the path to scripting
a new history in space
“When an Indian rocket goes into space, it takes
with it not only the payload but also the dreams
of 140 crore countrymen.”

These words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi
are a symbol of India’s commitment to the space
development program, which got a new momentum
in 2014. India created new history by reaching Mars
at a cost less than the auto journey and also became
the first country to reach the South Pole of the Moon
with Chandrayaan-3.

n During the last ten years, from January 2015 to
December 2024, a total of 393 foreign satellites
and 3 Indian customer satellites have been
launched on a commercial basis on ISRO’s PSLV,
LVM3, and SSLV launch vehicles.

n ‘India has so far launched 34 countries’ satellites,
including those of developed countries since India’s first indigenous
2014- United States (232), United Kingdom (83), human spaceflight
Singapore (19), Canada (8), Korea (5) Luxembourg The Gaganyaan program has been
(4), Italy (4), Germany (3), Belgium (3), Finland (3), approved with a financial outlay of about
France (3), Switzerland (2) Netherlands (2), Japan Rs 20,193 crore. India’s first indigenous
(2), Israel (2), Spain (2), Australia (1), United Arab human spaceflight initiative. It aims to
Emirates (1), Austria (1), others (8). send Indian astronauts to low Earth orbit
‘On 15 February 2017, ISRO launched 104 (LEO), which will lay the foundation for
n
satellites in a single mission- a world record, which more advanced missions. Four pilots of
has not been broken to date. the Indian Air Force have been selected
for this mission. These include Group
n ‘India launched its first solar mission with Aditya Captain PB Nair, Group Captain Ajit
L-1 in February 2017. Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap,
India’s goal includes establishing the Bharatiya and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla.
n
Antariksh Station (BAS) in space by the year 2035 If everything goes well, this first human
and landing on the moon with an Indian crew by spaceflight of India will be launched in
2040. the first quarter of 2027.

The reforms started in the space sector after 2014 Indian Space Policy 2023. This created a new path
have contributed significantly to establishing India for innovation. As a result of this, more than 328
as a strong player in space. Under this, the way was space startups have emerged in recent years.
opened for 100 percent foreign direct investment in India’s space program is at a historic turning
the space sector. The budget of India’s space program point where it is turning into a mission of leader-
was increased three times by 2025-26 as compared ship instead of just research. The Axiom-4 mission
to the year 2013-14. In 2020, with the establishment is an important part of this journey, which reflects
of IN–SPACe, the space sector was opened to private India’s emerging capabilities and global position
companies, and India’s future goals were set with the in space science. n

July 16-31, 2025 || NEW INDIA SAMACHAR 11