By Emeka Blast 
India Aims to Establish Indigenous Space Station by 2040
India is set to join the elite group of spacefaring nations with its own space station, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), by 2040, according to Dr. V. Narayanan, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Speaking at a recent event at GITAM Deemed to be University in Visakhapatnam, Narayanan confirmed that ISRO is accelerating plans for the modular space station, with the first module, BAS-1, scheduled for launch in 2028, and the full station expected to be operational by 2035, though the timeline now extends to 2040 for completion of all advanced capabilities.
The BAS, designed to weigh 52 tonnes and orbit at approximately 400 kilometers above Earth, will support astronauts for 3-6 month missions, fostering microgravity research and serving as a hub for lunar exploration. The station will consist of five modules—base, core, science, lab, and common working modules—each equipped with solar panels, except the common working module, to ensure sustainable power. ISRO has completed detailed designs for BAS-1, with developmental tests set to begin in 2025, leveraging technologies validated by the PSLV-C58 mission’s Fuel Cell Power System in January 2024.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a key advocate for India’s Space Vision 2047, has championed the BAS as a cornerstone of India’s ambition to land an astronaut on the Moon by 2040. “The Bharatiya Antariksh Station will position India among global leaders in space exploration, driving innovation and inspiring our youth,” Modi said at the Global Conference on Space Exploration (GLEX) 2025. The project builds on ISRO’s successes, including Chandrayaan-3’s historic lunar south pole landing and Mangalyaan’s cost-effective Mars orbit mission.
The Union Cabinet approved BAS-1’s development in September 2024 with a budget of ₹20,193 crore ($2.41 billion), integrating it into the Gaganyaan program, India’s first human spaceflight initiative set for 2027. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, one of four astronauts training for Gaganyaan, recently became the second Indian in space, visiting the International Space Station in June 2025, signaling India’s readiness for crewed missions.
While some on X express excitement, with @IndiaWarZone and @gemsofbabus_ hailing the 2040 target as a “big breaking” milestone, others, like Reddit users, question the timeline’s feasibility given India’s resource constraints compared to wealthier nations. ISRO, however, points to its cost-effective model, with missions like Mangalyaan costing a fraction of Western counterparts, as evidence of its capability. NASA administrator Bill Nelson has offered collaboration, potentially easing technical challenges.
