New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that India was marching ahead with renewed confidence in the field of space exploration, and its astronauts’ footprints will be on the Moon.
Mars and Venus were also on the country’s radar for exploration missions, he stressed in a pre-recorded message for the Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX-2025) here.
Modi said for India, space was about exploration as well as empowerment, and listed out plans to set up the Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and land an Indian astronaut on the Moon by 2040.
He said, “Space is not just a destination. It is a declaration of curiosity, courage and collective progress. Indian space journey reflects this spirit. From launching a small rocket in 1963 to becoming the first nation to land near the south pole of the Moon, our journey has been remarkable. Our rockets carry more than payloads. They carry the dreams of 1.4 billion Indians. India’s achievements are significant scientific milestones. Beyond that, they are proof that the human spirit can defy gravity.”
The Prime Minister said that India successfully reached Mars on its first attempt with the Mangalyaan mission in 2013 and discovered water on the Moon in 2008 with Chandrayaan-1.
India made history by reaching Mars on its first attempt in 2014. Chandrayaan-1 helped discover water on the Moon. Chandrayaan-2 gave us the highest resolution images of the Moon. Chandrayaan-3 increases our understanding of the lunar South Pole.
“We built cryogenic engines in a record time. We launched 100 satellites in a single mission. We have launched over 400 satellites for 34 nations on our launch vehicles. This year we docked two satellites in space, a major step forward,” he added.
PM Modi underscored that India’s space journey was about collective progress, rather than competition. He said, “India’s space journey is not about racing others; it is about reaching higher together. Together, we share a common goal to explore space for the good of humanity. We launch a satellite for the South Asian nations. Now, the G-20 satellite mission announced during our presidency will be a gift to the Global South.”
“Our first human space flight mission-Gaganyaan, highlights our nation’s rising expeditions. In the coming weeks, an Indian astronaut will travel to space as part of a joint ISRO-NASA mission to the International Space Station. By 2035, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station will open new frontiers in research and global cooperation. By 2040, an Indian footprint will be on the moon. Mars and Venus are also on our radar,” he added.
The PM said the nation was committed to global cooperation, citing the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or “the world is one family.”
“India’s space vision is grounded in the ancient vision of Vasudeva Kutumbakam, i.e., the world is one family. We strive not for our own growth but to enrich global knowledge, address common challenges and inspire future generations. India stands for dreaming together, building together and reaching for the stars together,” he added.
The 12th edition of the Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX 2025) is scheduled to take place from May 7 to 9 at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi.
