By Vineet Dikshit

NewsGate Press Network

Come 2035, India will have its very own space station in orbit.

The Union Cabinet in its meeting held on Wednesday the 18th of September decided to give green light to ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) to build and operate Indian space station by 2035.

According to details released after the cabinet, the space station will be known as Bharatiya Antariksh Station-1 (BAS-1).

Building of BAS-1 is in reality an extension of Gaganyaan project.

It may be recalled that the Gaganyaan Programme approved in December 2018 envisages undertaking the human spaceflight to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and to lay the foundation of technologies needed for an Indian human space exploration programme in the long run.

Creation of an operational Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and Indian Crewed Lunar Mission by 2040 are now integral parts of ISRO’s ambitious programmes among others.

Also to achieve the goal to build BAS-1, Union Cabinet also approved proposal to develop the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV).

NGLV will have 3 times the present payload capability with 1.5 times the cost compared to LVM3, and will also have reusability resulting in low-cost access to space and modular green propulsion systems.

The Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) is designed to have a maximum payload capability of 30 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit, which also has a reusable first stage.

Currently, India has achieved self-reliance in space transportation systems to launch satellites up to 10 tonne to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 4 tonne to Geo-Synchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) through the currently operational PSLV, GSLV, LVM3 & SSLV launch vehicles.

To achieve all of the above goals, ISRO will undertake four missions under ongoing Gaganyaan Programme by 2026 and development of first module of BAS & four missions for demonstration & validation of various technologies for BAS by December, 2028.

The nation will acquire essential technological capabilities for human space missions to Low Earth Orbit.

A national space-based facility such as the Bharatiya Antariksh Station will boost microgravity based scientific research & technology development activities.

This will lead to technological spin-offs and encourage innovations in key areas of research and development.

With a net additional funding of ₹11170 Crore in the already approved programme, the total funding for Gaganyaan Programme with the revised scope has been enhanced to ₹20193 Crore.