Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has outlined plans to develop a lunar space station by 2040 as part of its long-term goals for lunar exploration. This marks a key phase in India’s growing space capabilities.
The lunar space station is a significant component of ISRO’s third phase in its crewed lunar mission roadmap. This roadmap was discussed during a recent symposium and builds on previous milestones in India’s space journey.
The announcement follows the success of India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission, where the country became the fourth to achieve a soft landing on the Moon. This achievement has energized the next steps in India’s lunar exploration efforts.
ISRO has divided its lunar program into three phases: - Phase one focuses on technology development and robotic missions - Phase two aims for a crewed Moon landing by 2040. - Phase three envisions a lunar space station to support scientific research and resource utilization.
The proposed lunar space station will serve as a research hub to study the Moon’s geology and conduct experiments. It will also support long-duration human presence in deep space and test technologies for future missions beyond Earth’s orbit.
The lunar space station is expected to play a pivotal role in preparing India for deeper space exploration, providing a base for scientific studies and advancing technology for missions to Mars and beyond.
Concurrently, ISRO is advancing plans for its first space station, the Bharatiya Antariksha Station, which is set for launch by 2035. This low Earth orbit station will function as a testbed for technologies required for the lunar outpost.
While other countries are also planning Moon missions, India’s phased and comprehensive approach distinguishes its strategy. ISRO’s ongoing developments in launch vehicles and life support systems are crucial for the successful establishment of the lunar station.