Bengaluru: India is moving swiftly towards setting up its own space station while pushing ahead with the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, ISRO Programme Director Imtiyaz Ahmed said highlighting the country’s expanding ambitions in space exploration.
Speaking about ongoing efforts, Ahmed said nearly 80 satellites are currently under development, supporting a wide range of applications including scientific research, disaster response, internal security, navigation and the transmission of vital data for the Gaganyaan mission. These initiatives, he noted, are key to strengthening India’s space-based infrastructure and advancing technological self-reliance.
He added that the Indian Space Research Organisation is simultaneously working on several flagship projects, such as Earth Observation missions, the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NVS), the Indian Data Relay Satellite System (IDRSS), the Gaganyaan programme and the proposed Venus Orbiter Mission. Together, these missions underscore India’s growing presence in space science, exploration and applied technologies.
Reflecting on the launch of India’s first satellite Aryabhata on 19 April 1975, Ahmed said the mission marked a defining chapter in the country’s scientific history. Despite limited resources at the time, Aryabhata laid the groundwork for future achievements and helped shape ISRO’s global standing.
To commemorate 50 years of Aryabhata, ISRO has begun a nationwide student outreach programme. The first event in Bihar was held in Samastipur, where scientists interacted with students, shared career journeys and encouraged them to pursue opportunities in the space sector.
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