The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced its ambitious plan to launch the first module of the Indian Space Station (ISS) by 2028, as part of its vision to establish a permanent orbital outpost for scientific and technological exploration. The chief of ISRO, S Somanath, revealed this plan at the 6th Bharatiya Vigyan Sammelan, held at Science City in Ahmedabad on Friday.
Somanath said that the first module will weigh eight tonnes and will be a robotic satellite that can dock with other modules and conduct experiments. He said that this module will be launched by 2028 using the LVM-3 rocket, which has a payload capacity of 10 tonnes. He added that the subsequent modules, which will range from 20 to 25 tonnes, will require a more powerful launch vehicle that is currently under development.
Somanath said that ISRO is seeking approval for this advanced rocket and expects it to be ready in seven years. He said that by then, ISRO will have built further modules and made the space station fully operational. He said that human beings can go to the space station only after 2035, when the heavier modules are successfully launched and integrated.
Somanath also stressed on the need for a strong connection between industry and academia in India, as he believes that science and technology should drive product innovation and wealth creation. He said that ISRO is working on creating a chain of research from universities and institutions to industries and markets, where it can generate revenue and reinvest in further research.
He also highlighted the New Education Policy (NEP) focus on building capabilities to convert knowledge creation into wealth creation. He said that this policy reflects the government’s commitment to transform science policy in India.
The Indian Space Station project is one of the most ambitious endeavours by ISRO, which aims to make India a global leader in space exploration. The project is inspired by other countries’ space stations such as NASA’s International Space Station (ISS), China’s Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2, Russia’s Mir, Japan’s Kibo, etc.
The ISS is an international collaborative project involving five space agencies: NASA (USA), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada). It orbits around Earth at an altitude of about 400 km and serves as a platform for conducting scientific experiments in various fields such as biology, physics, astronomy, medicine, etc.
The ISS also serves as a testbed for developing new technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, etc. It also provides opportunities for training astronauts from different countries for future missions.
ISRO hopes to contribute significantly to this global endeavour by launching its own modules to the ISS. It also plans to use its expertise in launching satellites for various purposes such as communication, navigation, remote sensing, etc., from its own space station.
ISRO has already achieved several milestones in its space programme such as launching satellites like Aryabhata, GSAT-11, Chandrayaan-1, etc., sending probes like Mangalyaan and Chandrayaan-2 to Mars orbiting satellites like INSAT-3D providing communication services through GSAT-19 developing launch vehicles like PSLV-C37 GSLV Mk III etc.,
ISRO has also demonstrated its capability in human spaceflight with missions like Gaganyaan, which aims to send three Indian astronauts into low Earth orbit by 2022.
ISRO’s vision is not only limited to Earth orbit but also extends beyond it with missions like Aditya-L1, which will place India’s first lunar orbiter around our natural satellite; Chandrayaan-3, which will attempt another soft landing on Moon; Gaganyaan-2, which will send four Indian astronauts into deep space; Shukrayaan-1, which will study Venus’ atmosphere; Mangalyaan-2, which will explore Mars’ surface; etc.
ISRO’s ultimate goal is to become self-reliant in all aspects of space technology development and exploration. It also aims to inspire young minds towards pursuing careers in science and technology.
