India to have own space station by 2035, country will go to Moon again, says PM Modi

After announcing the names of the astronauts of the Gaganyaan mission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India will have its own space station by 2035. Addressing ISRO scientists at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) here, Modi said India will once again go to the Moon and bring back samples from the lunar surface.

After announcing the names of the astronauts of the Gaganyaan mission here on February 27 (Tuesday), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India will have its own space station by 2035.

Addressing ISRO scientists at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) here, Mr. Modi said India will once again go to the Moon and bring back samples from the lunar surface.

ISRO also has Venus on its radar, the Prime Minister said. An Indian astronaut will land on the moon using Indian spacecraft during ‘Amrit Kaal,’ he added, referring to plans for a crewed lunar mission by 2040.

The four astronaut-designates of the Gaganyaan programme whose names were revealed on Tuesday are not merely four names or four individuals, “they are four ‘Shaktiyaan’ (powers) who carry the aspirations of 140 crore Indians into space,” Mr. Modi said.

The Prime Minister said that an Indian is about to go to space after a gap of 40 years, in an apparent reference to Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 space flight aboard USSR’s Soyuz T-11.

“But this time, the time is ours, the countdown is ours and the rocket also is ours,” Mr. Modi said.

Mr. Modi began his speech by calling for a standing ovation for the astronaut-designates. He added that he was delighted to have been able to introduce them to the nation.