Aim for Indian on the Moon by 2040: Modi

A space station by 2035, and a manned mission to the Moon by 2040 — these were the objectives listed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Tuesday during a review of India’s first manned space mission, a crucial test flight for which is scheduled on October 21.

- Soumya Pillai

“Building on the success of the Indian space initiatives, including the recent Chandrayan-3 and Aditya-L1 missions, Prime Minister directed that India should now aim for new and ambitious goals, including setting up ‘Bharatiya Antariksha Station’ (Indian Space Station) by 2035 and sending first Indian to the Moon by 2040,” an official statement from the PMO said.

The department of space, which oversees the operations of Isro, has also been directed to develop a roadmap for India’s future Moon missions, the development of a Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), which would be equipped to undertake return missions, the construction of a new launch pad, and the setting up of human-centric laboratories and associated technologies.

In the meeting, PM also called upon Indian scientists to work towards interplanetary missions including a Venus orbiter mission and a Mars lander.