New Delhi: India’s next phase of space exploration will deepen its role in human spaceflight, planetary science and advanced space technology, supporting the country’s ambition to become a leading global space power, according to the government.

An official fact-sheet states that India is entering a new stage of human spaceflight, deep-space exploration and advanced space infrastructure, with upcoming missions aimed at building capabilities for sustained human presence and complex orbital operations.

The Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme was approved in January 2019. Its scope was expanded and revised in September 2024 to a total outlay of Rs 20,193 crore covering eight missions, including precursor flights for the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS-01). The programme aims to launch a crew of three Indian astronauts to a 400-km orbit for a three-day mission. The first uncrewed experimental flight, intended to validate technologies including the half-humanoid Vyommitra, is targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026. The crewed mission is targeted by 2027.

India’s planned five-module Bharatiya Antariksh Station is targeted for operationalisation by 2035, with BAS-01 planned for launch by 2028. The station is intended to support long-duration human spaceflight, microgravity research and advanced space operations.

SPADEX-2 and SPADEX-3 missions are being studied to advance orbital docking technologies for future Chandrayaan-4, Gaganyaan and BAS missions. They are expected to enable spacecraft docking, sample and crew transfer, and power, fluid and propellant transfer.

The Venus Orbiter Mission, targeted for launch in March 2028, will study Venus’s geology, atmosphere and ionosphere and demonstrate advanced aerobraking and thermal-management technologies.

ISRO is developing a 200-tonne-thrust semi-cryogenic engine to enable more powerful launch vehicles and higher payload capacity. A semi-cryogenic booster stage is also being developed for the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) to enhance its payload capability. The agency is demonstrating booster recovery using vertical take-off and vertical landing (VTVL) technology to support rocket-stage reusability and lower future launch costs.

A partially reusable Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) using LOX-methane propulsion is under development for greater payload capability and more frequent, cost-effective launches. ISRO is also working on a winged orbital re-entry vehicle under the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) programme to demonstrate orbital re-entry and runway landing, as well as air-breathing propulsion and a technology demonstrator vehicle that could support more efficient atmospheric flight and advanced reusable systems.

The fact-sheet frames these efforts as a coordinated push across human spaceflight, planetary missions and launch-system modernisation.