India is ready to take a significant leap in its space exploration journey by establishing its own space station, named Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS). Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared this historic news on 18 September, 2024 revealing that the first module of BAS will be operational by in the year of 2035. PM Modi hailed this development as “great news” for India’s space sector, marking an important step in the country’s growing space ambitions.
Bharatiya Antariksha Station
The Union Cabinet has approved the initial steps for establishing the Indian Space Station, with a vision to make it self-reliant by 2035. PM Modi also revealed that India aims to send a manned mission to the Moon by 2040. “This historic decision expands the Gaganyaan program and brings India closer to achieving a crewed lunar mission by 2040,” said the Prime Minister during the announcement.
Bharatiya Antariksha Station: Major Boost to ISRO’s Ambitious Plans
- Chandrayaan-4 mission
- Venus Orbiter Mission
What is a Space Station?
A space station is an artificial satellite placed in low Earth orbit where astronauts can live for extended periods to conduct scientific research and experiments. It serves as a permanent or temporary residence outside Earth, where scientists carry out various tests and studies in a microgravity environment.
Space stations are usually set up about 400 kilometers above Earth and can even be seen from the ground. Space stations need regular supplies of materials and equipment from Earth. They provide a unique platform where scientists can work in an environment outside Earth and explore the mysteries of space.
Major Space Stations:
International Space Station (ISS): This is the largest and most prominent space station. It is jointly operated by NASA, Russia’s Roscosmos, Japan’s JAXA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and Canada. Research on space science, biology, physics, and human health in space is conducted on the ISS.
Mir: Russia’s Mir space station was a major station that orbited Earth from the year 1986 to 2001. It laid the foundation for long-duration human missions.
Tiangong: China’s Tiangong space station is the country’s first fully autonomous space station, aimed at advancing China’s space research and experiments.
History of Space Stations: An Overview
Space exploration technology, due to its complexity and cost, began developing during the 1960s. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the United States took the lead in space exploration. In the year 1971, the Soviet Union launched the world’s first space station-Salyut. Two years later, in the year 1973, the United States launched its first station, Skylab.
So far a total of 11 space stations have been constructed but currently only 2 are operational – the International Space Station (ISS) and China’s Tiangong-2. The construction of the ISS began in the year 1998 and it has been fully operational since 2011. The first astronauts were sent to the ISS in the year 2000. The ISS is operated by 16 countries under NASA’s leadership including Russia, Japan, Brazil, Canada and 11 European countries.
Why Does India Need a Space Station?
The need for a space station in India is significant for several reasons:
- India’s Presence in Space: After Rakesh Sharma was sent to space by the Soviet Union in the year 1984, no other Indian citizen has gone to space. Therefore it is crucial for India to establish its presence in space to advance as a global power.
- Limited Time for the ISS: India could not become part of the ISS due to past policies. Now, it is estimated that the ISS may not remain fully operational after 2024-2025. Therefore it is essential for India to develop its own space station.
- Continuity of the Gaganyaan Mission: After the success of the Gaganyaan Mission, India will need a space station to support future manned missions.
- Space Tourism: Leading companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin are focusing on space tourism, and NASA has also joined this venture. India must make progress in this area to benefit from the potential opportunities space tourism could bring in the future.
