India aims to land its astronauts on the Moon and establish a space station by 2040, former ISRO Chief A S Kiran Kumar announced on Wednesday during the inauguration of the 5th Astronomical Society of India (ASI) Symposium. The remarks underline India’s long-term commitment to expanding its presence in space.

Speaking at the three-day symposium, Kumar, now chairman of the management council of the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), said, “Between now and 2040, a series of missions will advance India’s space capabilities. The 2040 plan envisions safely landing Indian astronauts on the Moon and building a domestic space station.”

In the near term, India plans to pursue follow-on Chandrayaan missions with international collaboration, including a partnership with Japan for a lunar lander and rover. The initial focus will be on the Moon’s South Polar region, laying the foundation for broader lunar and deep-space exploration initiatives.

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Kumar emphasized that India’s space programme has traditionally focused on societal benefits rather than military applications, following the pioneering vision of Dr Vikram Sarabhai. Early missions prioritized satellite communication and weather monitoring to serve the needs of Indian citizens.

He also highlighted opportunities for academic institutions, engineering colleges, and private companies to contribute to India’s space exploration goals, stressing collaboration between scientific research and technological innovation as key to success.

The ASI symposium, hosting nearly 150 participants including scientists, engineers, and young researchers, covers diverse areas such as optics, instrumentation, astronomy, planetary science, atmospheric science, and emerging fields like quantum technologies. Prominent attendees included Prof Yashwant Gupta, Prof Annapurni Subramaniam, and Prof Anil Bhardwaj.

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