Syllabus: Indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Context and Evolution
- India’s space programme has evolved beyond missions, becoming a source of national pride and identity.
- Display of Tricolour aboard ISS by Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla symbolised collective national achievement.
- Prime Minister termed the ISS moment a defining chapter of Amrit Kaal, linking space with national resurgence.
Landmark Lunar and Planetary Missions
- Chandrayaan-1 (2008) confirmed presence of water molecules on the lunar surface.
- Chandrayaan-2 (2019) generated high-precision lunar maps, laying groundwork for future missions.
- Chandrayaan-3 (2023) achieved world’s first soft landing near the lunar south pole.
- Vikram lander and Pragyan rover operated for one full lunar day, inspiring scientific and public imagination.
- Mars Orbiter Mission (2014) made India first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit on maiden attempt.
Expanding Scientific Frontiers
- Over 400 foreign satellites launched using Indian launch vehicles, enhancing global trust.
- Aditya-L1 (2023) studies solar corona and space weather through multi-institutional collaboration.
- XPoSat (2024) focuses on black holes using X-ray polarimetry observations.
- SpaDeX (2024) demonstrated in-orbit docking, critical for future stations and lunar missions.
New Space Vision and Roadmap
- Planned missions include Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan-4 and 5, Venus mission, and Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
- Bharatiya Antariksh Station targeted by 2035, with human Moon landing envisaged by 2040.
- Gaganyaan programme has approved outlay exceeding ₹20,000 crore.
- Four Indian Air Force test pilots undergoing astronaut training for indigenous human mission.
- First human spaceflight mission currently targeted for 2027.
Space Technology and Governance
- Satellites support disaster warnings, fisheries advisories, crop assessment, railway safety, and insurance claims.
- Space systems power geospatial backbone of PM Gati Shakti programme.
- Space described as a democratic utility, integrated into everyday governance and citizen services.
Ecosystem Expansion and Economy
- Opening to private sector created ecosystem of 350+ space startups.
- Space budget increased from ₹5,615 crore (2013-14) to ₹13,416 crore (2025-26).
- Nearly ₹5,000 crore added through user-funded programmes.
- India’s space economy valued at $8 billion, projected to reach $44 billion.
Youth, Innovation and Policy Framework
- Prime Minister called for training 40–50 astronauts for future missions.
- International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics 2025 hosted nearly 300 participants from 60 countries.
- Initiatives like ISRO Robotics Challenge and Bharatiya Antariksh Hackathon engage students directly.
- National Meet 2.0 generated 5,000+ pages from 300 interactions, shaping a 15-year roadmap.
Global Collaboration and Leadership
- South Asia Satellite provides communication services to neighbouring countries.
- G-20 Satellite (2023) announced for climate and environmental monitoring with shared data.
- Collaborative missions include NISAR (NASA), TRISHNA (CNES), LUPEX (JAXA), and Proba-3 (ESA).
- India’s space diplomacy guided by Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, projecting space as a global commons.
