Mon Jan 13 16:06:32 UTC 2025: ## India Aims for Human Spaceflight by 2026, Moon Landing by 2040: New ISRO Chief
**Thiruvananthapuram, India** – India’s new ISRO chief, Dr. V Narayanan, has announced ambitious plans for the Indian space program, including a crewed space mission by 2026 and a lunar landing by 2040. Speaking to NDTV a day before assuming his new role, Dr. Narayanan outlined a clear roadmap extending to 2047.
The Gaganyaan mission, a high priority project, will launch three astronauts into a 400-kilometer orbit for a three-day mission, returning to Indian waters. The mission’s rocket, the human-rated LVM3 (Bahubali), is now ready, and the four selected astronauts – Prashanth Nair, Angad Prathap, Ajit Krishnan, and Shubhanshu Shukla – are currently in training.
Looking further ahead, Dr. Narayanan revealed plans for a Bharatiya Antriksh Station (Indian Space Station) by 2035 and a crewed lunar landing by 2040. This lunar mission, Chandrayaan-4, approved last year, will focus on developing crucial technologies for lunar sample collection, analysis, and a safe return to Earth. These technologies will pave the way for the 2040 moon landing.
Dr. Narayanan, credited with developing India’s cryogenic engine technology, emphasized the nation’s considerable talent and expressed confidence in taking ISRO to new heights. Recent successes include a successful space docking experiment (SpaDeX), where two Indian satellites approached within three meters before safely separating, demonstrating crucial technology for future missions.
First Piper 