India to have space station by 2040

India has launched 434 satellites for 35 countries, showcasing its growing international collaborations. Furthering this effort, Isro is currently developing a satellite for G20 countries to monitor climate change, air pollution, and weather conditions, said Isro chairman Dr V Narayanan during a special event at GITAM Deemed to be University.

In his keynote speech, Dr Narayanan highlighted India's remarkable progress in space exploration and technology, explaining ISRO's role in advancing the nation's vision of self-reliance and global leadership in space.
He discussed the ongoing NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, an Earth-observing satellite project that employs advanced radar imaging to track changes on the Earth's surface.

Looking forward, he shared India's aspiration to establish its first space station by 2040, positioning the country as an emerging vibrant space power. Dr Narayanan noted that Isro's innovations continue to benefit the nation through vital systems in communication, television broadcasting, meteorology, resource monitoring, and space-based navigation. He encouraged greater collaboration, inviting academic institutions like GITAM to partner with ISRO to expand India's space knowledge base and contribute to national development.

Reflecting on Isro's journey, Dr Narayanan observed the organisation's evolution from launching small rockets carrying payloads of just 30-70 kg to missions deploying up to 4,000 kg into outer space. He highlighted historic milestones such as India becoming the first nation to reach Mars orbit on its maiden attempt, the record-breaking launch of 104 satellites in a single mission using PSLV-C37, and the successful soft landing on the Moon's south polar region. GITAM vice-chancellor Prof. Eroll D'Souza praised ISRO's phenomenal progress and expressed confidence that space technologies will play a crucial role in driving India's economic growth.