Indian Space Exploration Agency (ISRO) chairman Sreedhara Somanath recently shared the agency’s plans to send astronauts to the Moon by the 2040s. This exciting announcement was made at the 75th International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Italy. Somanath outlined the short, medium, and long-term goals of ISRO’s robotic and manned space exploration program, which received approval from the Government of New Delhi earlier this year.
One of the key developments revealed by Somanath is the development of a reusable rocket that will be ready in eight years. This rocket will have the capacity to carry modules weighing up to 30 tonnes to build the future Indian Space Station, scheduled to begin assembly in the mid-2030s. The ultimate goal is to have Indian astronauts land on the Moon in the 2040s. ISRO is also preparing for the first orbital flight of the manned capsule Gaganyaan by the end of this year, with plans to send Indian astronauts into space by 2026.
In addition to ISRO’s ambitious plans, other space agencies also shared their visions at the Congress. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) aims to conduct a manned mission to the lunar surface by 2030 and highlighted the International Lunar Research Station project, which has attracted participation from 15 countries and two international organizations. Japan’s space agency (JAXA) expressed interest in participating in commercial orbital complexes post-2030 and discussed upcoming missions to the Moon’s South Pole.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the importance of international cooperation in space exploration, particularly through the Artemis Agreements. These agreements set voluntary standards for behavior in outer space activities and pave the way for collaborative missions to the Moon and Mars. The European Space Agency (ESA) is focusing on planetary defense and mitigating space debris, with the launch of the Hera spacecraft to study the asteroid Dimorphos and the development of the Ramses mission to observe asteroid 99942 Apophis.
Concerns about space debris were echoed by ESA and the Canadian Space Agency, with both agencies emphasizing the need to address the growing issue of debris in Earth’s orbit. ESA’s Zero Debris Charter, signed by over a hundred organizations and companies, aims to reduce debris and pollution in outer space. Lisa Campbell, president of the Canadian Space Agency, highlighted the importance of satellites in monitoring and protecting Earth’s biodiversity, emphasizing the urgency of finding solutions to the space debris problem.
As nations and space agencies around the world set their sights on the Moon and beyond, collaboration, innovation, and sustainability will be key in shaping the future of space exploration. The strides made by ISRO, CNSA, JAXA, NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency underscore the shared commitment to advancing humanity’s presence in space while addressing the challenges that come with exploring the final frontier.
