ISRO is preparing for one of its busiest phases, with seven launches scheduled by the end of the current financial year. These missions include communication satellites, PSLV and GSLV launches, and the first PSLV wholly produced by the Indian industry, indicating a significant shift towards private sector involvement.
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan revealed that Chandrayaan-4, India’s first mission to retrieve lunar soil, has been approved and would launch in 2028. A successful attempt would place India alongside the US, Russia, and China in moon sample return missions.
ISRO is also advancing LUPEX, a joint mission with Japan’s JAXA to explore water ice at the Moon’s south pole. To meet increased mission demand, the organisation intends to triple spacecraft production within three years, serving government, scientific, defence, and commercial purposes.
Work has begun on India’s own space station. The first module will be placed in orbit in 2028, and the station is projected to be finished by 2035. Narayanan underlined that Gaganyaan’s human spaceflight timeline remains unchanged, with a crewed mission planned for 2027 following a series of uncrewed tests. India’s space economy, which is now valued at USD 8.2 billion, is expected to grow significantly due to increased private investment and sectoral reforms.
