Recently, the Government has announced that India’s first space station would be set up by 2030.
India's proposal towards space station:
1. Much smaller in mass (20 tonnes) than the International Space Station.
2. Preliminary plan-to accommodate astronauts for up to 20 days in space (an extension of the Gaganyaan mission).
3. Orbit Earth at an altitude of around 400km
4. Space docking experiment (Spadex)-Technology for making space stations functional.
Benefit for our space programme:
1. Microgravity experimentation lab- for astrobiology, materials science, space medicine and space weather.
2. Repair, maintenance and refuelling station
3. Space terminal for a space voyage
4. Earth Observation (Remote- Sensing)
5. Astronomical observations- Solar flares, meteorites etc.
6. Deep Space exploration
7. Sustenance of Human Space Mission
8. Global Position as Space power- Countering china’s hegemony.
Challenges
1. Budget Constraints.
2. Technological hindrances- Upgradation of GSLV-MK III will be required.
3. Probability of delay due to Gaganyaan.
The plan for an Indian space station seems ambitious. However, ISRO has reached a technological point where it can create a dynamic space program. Collaboration with the private sector is needed in order to realise this program timely and efficiently.