Indian astronauts' footprints will be on Moon; Mars, Venus also on radar: PM Modi

PM Modi highlights India's space achievements and future plans, emphasizing exploration, empowerment, and global cooperation in space missions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday (May 7, 2025) 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.

PM Modi said for India, space was about exploration as well as empowerment, and listed out plans to set up the Bharatiya Antariksha 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 (May 6, 2025.)

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," PM Modi said referring to the mission planned for early 2027 launch.

The Prime Minister said that in the coming weeks, an Indian astronaut will travel to space as part of a joint Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)-NASA Mission to the International Space Station.