After having a successful record in space missions like Chandrayaan -1, Mangalyaan and launching of over hundred satellites in one go, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is planning to set up its own space station.
In a historic announcement, ISRO Chief Dr Sivan, announced the space agency’s plans to set up its own space station by the end of the next decade.
At present, International Space Station (ISS) is the only one fully functional space station in the Earth’s lower orbit and it is a result of partnership between European Space Agency, the United States (NASA), Japan (JAXA), Canada (CSA) and Russia (Roscosmos).
India doesn’t want to carry out research experiments from the International Space Station (ISS), and wants to build its own facility.
Sivan explained that it would be a relatively small station where astronauts would only stay for 15 to 20 days, and they plan to make it a hub for microgravity research. It’ll have a mass of 15-20 tons.
At present, India’s space agency is busy with its first manned mission to space, called Gaganyaan, scheduled for August 2022.
Sivan said, “We have to sustain the Gaganyaan program. So, subsequently, as a long-term plan, we are planning to have the space station in India. We are going to join the international community in manned missions to moon, asteroids. We have a clear plan for the space program,”
