India's Ambitious Moon Mission: Astronauts Set to Land by 2040
India's Lunar Aspirations
Ahmedabad: India is gearing up for a monumental lunar mission, aiming to land its astronauts on the Moon by the year 2040, as stated by former ISRO chief A S Kiran Kumar during a recent event.
Kumar, who currently leads the management council at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), made this announcement at the opening of the 5th Astronomical Society of India (ASI) Symposium.
"We have a series of missions planned leading up to 2040, where our goal is to safely land Indian astronauts on the Moon and return them home," he explained.
He also mentioned that India is working towards establishing a space station by the same year.
During a media interaction at the PRL campus, Kumar elaborated on the nation's ambitious space agenda.
In the near term, a follow-up mission to Chandrayaan is on the horizon, with collaborative efforts underway with Japan for a lander and rover.
"Our focus will be on gathering specific data from the Moon's South Polar region, marking the start of extensive future activities. India is dedicated to space observation and understanding the universe," Kumar added.
This initiative is expected to create numerous opportunities for academic institutions, engineering colleges, and private enterprises to engage in India's space exploration efforts.
In his address to the audience of scientists and students, Kumar highlighted that India uniquely developed space technology primarily for societal benefits rather than military applications.
He praised Dr. Vikram Sarabhai's significant contributions to the space sector, noting that these efforts began just a decade after India's independence.
Sarabhai's vision included leveraging space technology for enhancing broadcast communication and weather monitoring to benefit the populace.
The three-day symposium emphasizes the crucial role of optics and advanced instrumentation across various scientific fields, including astronomy, planetary science, and atmospheric science, as well as emerging areas like quantum science and technology.
The event has attracted around 150 participants, including scientists, engineers, academics, and industry professionals from across the nation.
Notable attendees included Prof. Yashwant Gupta, Director of the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics; Prof. Annapurni Subramaniam, Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Bengaluru; and Prof. Anil Bhardwaj, Director of the Physical Research Laboratory.