Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced that India will build its own space station, highlighting the country’s rapid advancements in space technology and the growing participation of private players in the sector.
Speaking on National Space Day, the prime minister said, “India is rapidly advancing in breakthrough technologies such as semi-cryogenic engines and electric propulsion. Soon, thanks to the tireless efforts of Indian scientists, India will launch the Gaganyaan mission and in the coming years, India will also establish its own space station.”
PM Modi praised the achievements of Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who recently flew on the Axiom-4 mission. “Just 3 days ago, I met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. He filled every Indian with pride by hoisting the tricolour on the International Space Station. The moment, the feeling when he was showing me the tricolour, is beyond words,” he said.
The theme of this year’s National Space Day is “From Aryabhata to Gaganyaan”, reflecting India’s journey from its first satellite to ambitious human spaceflight plans.
The prime minister cited the need for continuous progress in space exploration, drawing a parallel to policymaking. “I firmly believe that in the space sector, there should never be a final pause at the policy level. That is why I had said from the Red Fort that our path is the path of Reform, Perform, and Transform. In the past 11 years, the nation has undertaken major reforms in the space sector,” he said.
Also read: National Space Day 2025: Modi hails Aryabhata to Gaganyaan theme
Modi highlighted the transformation of space from a highly restricted government domain to one open to private participation. Over 350 startups are now driving innovation in the field. The prime minister also revealed that the first PSLV rocket entirely built by the private sector will be launched soon, marking a milestone for India’s space ambitions.
ISRO's recent achievements
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has made significant strides in space exploration. In a historic achievement, the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission’s docking operation was successfully completed on January 16, 2025, marking India’s entry into the elite group of nations capable of executing space docking operations. With this success, India became the fourth country in the world to achieve this technological feat.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) onJanuary 29, 2025, morning, launched its historic 100th mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The GSLV-F15 carrying the NVS-02 satellite lifted off from the spaceport’s second launch pad at 6.23 a.m. “The first launch of 2025 has been successfully accomplished. The satellite has been placed into the intended orbit,” said ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan, who assumed charge of the space agency earlier this month.
NVS-02, the second satellite in the NVS series, is configured with navigation payloads in L1, L5 and S bands in addition to a ranging payload in C-band like its predecessor NVS-01. It is built on the standard I-2K bus platform, has a lift-off mass of 2,250 kg, and a power handling capability of approximately 3 kW.
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