India’s First Astronaut on ISS Marks New Era in Space Journey: Jitendra Singh
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh speaks in the Lok Sabha during a special discussion on “Critical Role of the Space Programme for Viksit Bharat by 2047”, on Monday
New Delhi, August 18: Union Minister for Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Monday hailed the experiments conducted by Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as a defining moment in India’s space journey, saying they personify the nation as “Vishwabandhu Bharat”—a friend to the world.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha during a special discussion on “Critical Role of the Space Programme for Viksit Bharat by 2047”, Dr Singh said Shukla’s mission was not merely symbolic but a demonstration of India’s cost-effective space technology, international collaboration, and indigenous innovation.
Calling Shukla’s presence on the ISS a “historic milestone,” the minister said the mission showcased India’s ability to combine intellectual talent with advanced planning at a fraction of global costs. “This success reflects the talent of our scientists and the enabling ecosystem created when reforms opened up the space sector to private participation,” he noted.
More than 300 space startups are now driving growth in India’s $8 billion space economy, he said, with experiments ranging from life sciences and plant physiology to agriculture, biotechnology, and cognitive research, all designed with Indian-built kits. Their applications, he added, will extend beyond space into health, agriculture, disaster management, and urban planning.
Tracing the journey of India’s human spaceflight programme, Dr Singh credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2018 Red Fort address for setting the Gaganyaan mission in motion, leading to collaborations with NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX.
Looking ahead, the minister outlined the roadmap: the Vyommitra humanoid mission in 2026, the first Indian astronaut under Gaganyaan in 2027, an Indian space station by 2035, and an Indian astronaut on the Moon by 2040. “A few years before 2047, a young Indian will declare from the lunar surface the arrival of a Viksit Bharat,” he told the House.
“This is not just about one astronaut. It is about India’s place in the world and the dreams of every child who aspires to reach the stars,” Dr Singh concluded.
