Our Astronauts’ Footprints On Moon By 2040: PM

Our first human space-flight mission, ‘Gaganyaan’, planned for early 2027 launch, highlights our nation’s rising aspirations. India’s space journey is not about racing others. It is about reaching higher together — Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that India was marching ahead with renewed confidence in the field of space exploration and its astronauts’ footprints will be on the Moon. Mars and Venus were also on the country’s radar for exploration missions, he stressed in a pre-recorded message for the Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX-2025) here. Modi said for India, space was about exploration as well as empowerment, and listed out plans to set up the Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and land an Indian astronaut on the Moon by 2040. “India’s space journey is not about racing others. It is about reaching higher together. Together, we share a common goal to explore space for the good of humanity,” he said in the video message that was recorded on Tuesday.

He said India has launched a satellite for the South Asian nations and the G20 satellite, announced during its presidency of the grouping, will be a gift to the Global South.

“Our first human space-flight mission, ‘Gaganyaan’, highlights our nation’s rising aspirations,” Modi said referring to the mission planned for early 2027 launch. The Prime Minister said in the coming weeks, an Indian astronaut will travel to space as part of a joint ISRO-NASA Mission to the International Space Station. The Axiom-4 mission is stated for launch on May 29 and Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three others will undertake a 14-day sojourn to the orbital laboratory. The GLEX-2025 is organised by the International Astronautical Federation and the Indian Space Research Organisation.

“Space is not just a destination. It is a declaration of curiosity, courage, and collective progress. India’s space journey reflects this spirit,” Modi said.