Imagine India having its own ‘home’ in space, orbiting the Earth at incredible speeds while scientists conduct groundbreaking experiments.
This is no longer just a dream. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has just finalised the configuration for the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), India’s very own space station that will float above the Earth, serving as the country's gateway to deeper space exploration.
Think of a space station as a large laboratory in the sky where astronauts can live and work for months. Just like the International Space Station (ISS) you might have seen in pictures or videos, India's space station will be assembled using five separate modules, like connecting building blocks in space.
The entire station is expected to be fully operational by 2035, which is just over a decade away. A special National Level Review Committee has thoroughly examined and approved the design, ensuring it aligns with India's ambitious long-term goals for human space exploration.
Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Science and Technology, shared this exciting update in the Lok Sabha recently.
The announcement came with more good news. In September 2024, the Union Cabinet gave the green signal to develop and launch the first module, called BAS-01. This first piece of our space station is scheduled to launch in 2028, and engineering teams are already making solid progress on building it.
The cost of this massive project has been carefully calculated. The total funding for the Gaganyaan Programme, which includes sending humans to space and building the space station, has been increased to a whopping Rs 20,193 crore.
What makes this project even more interesting is that the BAS subsystems are being designed to match global guidelines, meaning our space station will be compatible with technology from other space agencies around the world.
This is similar to ensuring that your phone charger works in different countries. By following these universal standards, India is opening the doors for international scientific collaboration. Scientists from different nations can work together on the BAS, sharing knowledge and conducting joint research.
In that regard, the ISRO is already exploring partnerships with other space agencies for technology development and accessing specialised testing facilities that might not be available in India.
Before we can build a space station, however, we need to master sending humans safely to space and bringing them back. This is where the Gaganyaan mission comes in.
Gaganyaan will be India's first crewed spaceflight, aiming to send Indian astronauts to a Low Earth Orbit—which is roughly 400km the above Earth's surface—and return them safely home.
Success in this mission is absolutely crucial, because it will provide ISRO with the technology and experience needed to support astronauts living in space for extended periods.
“Once operational, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station will serve as an advanced research facility. In space, there is something called microgravity, which means objects are nearly weightless. This unique environment allows scientists to conduct experiments that are simply impossible on Earth," explained space analyst Girish Linganna.
"From developing new medicines to understanding how materials behave differently in space, the possibilities are endless. The station will accommodate various types of research, creating opportunities for both Indian and international scientists to push the boundaries of human knowledge,” he added.
The Bharatiya Antariksh Station spans 27m by 20m—roughly the size of four large buses parked together—and weighs 52 tonnes, about as heavy as 35 cars combined.
It will orbit 400-450km above the Earth at a comfortable inclination of 51.6 degrees, making it accessible from Indian launch sites while offering spectacular views of our subcontinent. The habitable volume inside measures 105 cubic metres, providing breathing room for astronauts to live and work comfortably.
In 2028, the BAS-01 will dash into the sky aboard the powerful LVM-3. This vital component will pack efficient solar panels using multi-junction Ga-As cells, environmental control and life support systems creating breathable air, radiation and thermal shielding, and micrometeoroid protection.
From 2028 to 2035, four more modules will join through the Next Generation Launch Vehicle. The Core-Docking Module features four berthing ports, allowing up to six spacecraft to dock simultaneously for crew rotations, cargo deliveries and resupply missions.
The Science Research Module houses facilities for biology, fluid dynamics, and material sciences research, complete with viewports for Earth observation.
The Laboratory Module contains specialised equipment for life sciences, medicine, biotechnology and technological demonstrations like waste recycling systems.
The Common Working Module can house three to four astronauts normally, and go up to six for short visits, with crew quarters, exercise facilities preventing muscle loss, airlocks for spacewalks using indigenous space suits, and emergency escape systems.
Power comes from multiple pairs of photovoltaic solar arrays, backed up by polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.
“By 2035, BAS becomes fully operational, enabling astronauts to stay three to six months conducting groundbreaking microgravity research. They'll grow perfect protein crystals for better medicines, test disease progression in weightlessness, cultivate stronger crops, manufacture ultra-pure materials, perfect water recycling, and prepare for lunar and Mars missions planned for 2040-2047. The station's international docking standards allow collaborative missions with other space agencies, opening doors to joint research, space tourism and resource exploration while creating thousands of high-tech jobs and inspiring millions to reach for the stars,” Linganna noted.
This space station is not the final destination, but rather an important stepping stone in India's larger space goals, in line with India's Space Vision 2047, which outlines the country's roadmap for human space exploration over the next two decades.
After establishing a permanent presence in a Low Earth Orbit through the space station, India plans to aim even higher, with future human missions to the Moon. The Bharatiya Antariksh Station represents a bridge between today's achievements and tomorrow's lunar ambitions.