'Goal Is Indian Space Station By 2035, Moon By 2040': PM Modi At International Space Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced that India aims to establish the Indian Space Station by 2035 and land an Indian on the Moon by 2040.

Addressing the International Space Summit in Paris via video conferencing, PM Modi said, "Looking ahead, our goal is to establish an Indian space station by 2035 and send an Indian to the Moon by 2040."

#WATCH | PM Modi addresses International Space Summit in France via video conferencing, says, "Chandrayaan-3 made India the first nation to land near the lunar South Pole. Aditya L-1 is unlocking the secrets of the Sun. Last year, an Indian visited the International Space… pic.twitter.com/dgkEieLpJe

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Highlighting recent achievements such as the Chandrayaan-3 landing near the lunar South Pole, the Aditya L-1 solar mission, and a recent Indian visit to the International Space Station, he added, "In all these efforts, our guiding principles have been clear. Their benefits must reach all humanity." He also noted that India's private space enterprise is now expanding alongside ISRO.

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Be Co-Travellers In India's Next Space Frontier

The Prime Minister highlighted France as a longstanding partner since the Indian space program began in the 1960s, noting that current bilateral cooperation spans Earth observation and advanced technologies.

Extending an invitation to France and other nations, PM Modi said, "We invite France and the world to be co-travellers in India's next space frontier. Let the Space Summit in Paris send a clear message that we will explore together, innovate together and protect space together for all humanity and for generations to come."

Call For Sustainability

PM Modi further emphasised the need for sustainable practices as space activities scale up, stating, "The promise of space is infinite; our responsibility is collective. As orbits become more crowded, technologies more powerful, and actors more numerous, our choices must be clear: cooperation over confrontation, sustainability over short-term gain, and inclusion over exclusion."

PM Modi Hails ISRO

The Prime Minister hailed ISRO for its technological excellence and cost-effective missions, noting that over 430 satellites from 34 countries have travelled to space aboard Indian rockets.

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He highlighted that ISRO's capabilities are being used for applications such as weather forecasting, navigation, disaster management, and assistance for farmers and fishermen. Crediting generations of scientists, engineers, and technicians, PM Modi added, "Working day and night, they have built ISRO's global reputation, mission by mission, success by success, and given India a place of pride among space-faring nations."

(With Inputs From Agencies)