India, Nov 16 : ISRO is entering one of its busiest operational phases, with seven additional launches lined up for the ongoing financial year and the ambitious Chandrayaan-4 mission set for a 2028 liftoff, chairman V. Narayanan said in an interview with PTI.
Narayanan outlined a period of rapid expansion in India’s space capabilities, stating that ISRO is preparing for significant scaling across science, technology and industry. Among the upcoming missions are a commercial communication satellite and several PSLV and GSLV launches, including the first-ever PSLV built entirely by Indian industry, marking a major milestone in private-sector participation.
The government has officially approved Chandrayaan-4, envisioned as India’s first lunar sample-return mission and described by Narayanan as “the country’s most complex lunar endeavour yet.” The mission aims to bring back moon samples—something achieved so far only by the US, Russia and China.
ISRO is also advancing the LUPEX mission, a joint lunar polar exploration effort with Japanese space agency JAXA, which will focus on investigating water ice at the Moon’s south pole.
To meet the rising demand for missions, ISRO is working to triple its annual spacecraft production within the next three years. Beyond lunar missions, work has begun on India’s first space station, targeted for completion by 2035. The first of its five modules is expected to be placed in orbit by 2028.
On the human-spaceflight front, Narayanan clarified that the timeline for the Gaganyaan crewed mission remains unchanged.
“The uncrewed mission was targeted for 2025. The crewed mission was always scheduled for 2027, and we are holding on to that date,” he said. Three uncrewed test flights will take place beforehand.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also directed ISRO to pursue a long-term objective of sending Indian astronauts to the Moon and returning them safely by 2040 aligning India with major global space powers. While the U.S. is advancing its Artemis lunar program, China has set a 2030 target for its first crewed Moon landing.
Narayanan noted that India currently holds a 2% share in the global space economy, with a target to expand this to 8% by 2030. India’s space market, valued at USD 8.2 billion, is projected to grow to USD 44 billion by 2033, while the global space economy may reach USD 1.8 trillion by 2035.
Space-sector reforms have accelerated private involvement, with more than 450 industries and 330 startups now active in India’s space ecosystem—up from just a handful a few years ago.
“We now have a vibrant base ecosystem, and it will grow further,” Narayanan said.