ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan has stated that India’s progress in space research now stands par with developed nations, reflecting decades of dedicated scientific efforts. Speaking at the Osmania University convocation in Hyderabad, he stated that the agency is developing a new launch vehicle as tall as a 40-story building and capable of placing a 75-tonne cargo into low Earth orbit. This ambitious project represents a significant leap from the early launch vehicles, which could only deliver 35 kg into orbit.
Mr. Narayanan emphasised that ISRO’s rise from humble beginnings to major space missions in just fifty years reflects the country’s tremendous progress in science and technology. He mentioned India’s prospective goals, which include a national space station by 2035, with the first module projected to be in place by 2027. The agency is also preparing for Chandrayaan-4, which will return samples from the Moon, and a dedicated mission to explore Venus.
The ISRO chief named 2025 as the “Gaganyaan Year,” with the human spaceflight program slated to take a significant stride forward with a test mission carrying the humanoid robot Vyommitra. He also mentioned that India currently has 55 satellites in orbit and plans to nearly triple that number.
