Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the scientific community to set ambitious new goals, including setting up an Indian Space Station (Bharatiya Antariksha Station) by 2035 and sending the first Indian astronaut to the moon by 2040.

The move will build on the success of Indian space initiatives, including the recent Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1 missions. To realise this vision, the Ministry of Space will develop a roadmap for lunar exploration. It will include a series of Chandrayaan missions, development of a new generation launch vehicle, construction of a new launch pad, setting up laboratories and related technologies. Modi held a high-level meeting on Tuesday to assess the progress of India’s Gaganyaan mission and outline the prospects for Indian space research.

The Prime Minister urged Indian scientists to work on interplanetary missions, including a Venus orbiter and a Mars rover, as reported by the official website of the Government of India.

During the meeting, he expressed confidence in India’s capabilities and reiterated the country’s readiness to conquer new heights in space exploration. The line ministry presented a comprehensive overview of the Gaganyaan mission, including the various technologies developed so far. The meeting noted that about 20 major tests are planned, including three uncrewed flights of the manned launch vehicle. Its first demonstration flight is scheduled for the 21st of this month. The meeting assessed the readiness of the mission, confirming the possibility of launching it in 2025.

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