Whether it’s making history by landing Chandrayaan-3 near the Moon’s south pole or launching the Aditya-L1 mission to study the Sun, recent years have been highly fruitful for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The Indian space agency has also gained global recognition for launching satellites for other countries at remarkably low costs. Now, ISRO is set to surprise the world once again by building not one but two space stations. It is planning to build one space station that will orbit the Earth, while the other will orbit the Moon, uncovering its mysteries. Notably, the Earth-orbiting space station will become the third in the world after the ISS and China’s Tiangong, making India the second country to achieve this feat. Additionally, India will be the first country to build a Moon space station.
Indian Space Stations
After challenging NASA and the European Space Agency with its indigenous Hubble telescope, ISRO has begun working on its space stations. It is noteworthy that the mission is significant because the International Space Station (ISS) is expected to be decommissioned by 2030. If ISRO builds the space station on time, then it could play a crucial role in space research. Moreover, India is preparing to build a Moon space station by 2040.
The Indian Space Station (ISS) is expected to launch by 2030, with work having started in 2019 under the leadership of ISRO’s former chairman, K. Sivan. The first phase of the crucial mission is Gaganyaan, under which India will send four astronauts to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The Gaganyaan mission will target the same point in space where India plans to set up its space station.
What is a Space Station?
A space station is like a home away from home, located way up in the cosmos and plays the role of a research hub for astronauts. These space zones circle around Earth persistently, kind of like an endless jog around our beloved planet. Currently, two such cosmic residences are up and operational: The International Space Station (ISS, a joint sweat and steel effort of 15 nations including the likes of NASA, Canada, Russia, and the European Space Agency) and China’s homegrown Tiangong station. The cosmic voyagers, our astronauts, generally clock in a minimum of a six-month stay at these stations before passing the baton to their space-exploring successors.
Chandrayaan-4 And The Moon Space Station
Before we even think about setting up a lunar space station, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up to launch its ambitious Chandrayaan-4 mission in 2028. With a clear goal in sight, ISRO is preparing to send an Indian spacecraft to the South Pole of the Moon, aiming to collect and bring back lunar samples. But that’s not all! India is also eyeballing a pioneering manned moon mission. News reports suggest a thrilling possibility, both the manned mission and the lunar space station could be launched simultaneously, aiming for as early as 2040.
NASA Training Indian Astronauts
ISRO has handpicked four ace pilots from the Indian Air Force for an esteemed role for Gaganyaan mission. The quartet includes Group Captains Prashant Balakrishnan Nair, Ajit Krishnan, Angad Pratap, as well as Wing Commander Shubanshu Shukla. These men shoulder the honor of being India’s pioneering astronauts. They are currently embracing a rigorous training regimen under NASA’s guidance, thanks to an alliance bridging India and the United States. Furthermore, India’s space enthusiasts eagerly wait as there’s buzz that we could see two of our own astronauts setting foot on the International Space Station before this year ends.
