Indian house programme rooted in worldwide cooperation quite than competitors: ISRO chief

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V. Narayanan, Chairman, ISRO, throughout the U.S.-India Area Enterprise Discussion board at 4 Seasons Resort in Bengaluru on February 10, 2026.
| Photograph Credit score: J. Allen Egenuse

“Area is for everybody, and the advantages from advances within the discipline needs to be loved by each individual on the globe,” mentioned V. Narayanan, Secretary, Division of Area, Authorities of India, and the Chairperson of ISRO.

Addressing the inaugural session of the US-India Area Enterprise Discussion board in Bengaluru on February 10, he mentioned, “India’s house programme was began to not compete with anyone, however to construct superior house expertise to profit the frequent man of India. At this time, we strongly consider it’s not just for India, however for the worldwide group.”

Collaborative achievements

Stressing the significance of collaboration, Mr. Narayanan identified that November 21, 1963 marked a significant milestone for India, when the primary tiny rocket lifted off from Indian soil.

“It was the U.S. that gave that tiny rocket, Nike-Apache, to us. The sodium vapour payload got here from France. All the factor was built-in by our workforce in a small church constructing. That was the start of the house exercise within the nation,” he recalled.

The collaboration continued within the years that adopted.

Noting that the U.S. was one of many companions within the Chandrayaan 1 mission, which offered the primary clear proof of the presence of water on the moon, Mr. Narayanan mentioned that each nations might be happy with the invention. He additionally hailed the Axiom mission, whose members included Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, and the NISAR mission, a joint challenge between NASA and ISRO, as different cases of fruitful collaborations.

Indian house station by 2035

“Now, there’s the India-USA civil house joint working group. Loads of issues are occurring in that space. ISRO personnel are being educated in NASA…. The human house flight programme is going to be a steady programme. We’re going to have a lot of collaborative efforts,” he mentioned.

Mr. Narayanan additional mentioned that India has come a good distance for the reason that house programme was launched.

“As many as 433 satellites of 34 nations have been lifted off from Indian soil, together with the heaviest satellite tv for pc lifted from Indian soil for the USA. The Prime Minister has given clear instructions that we’re going to construct our personal house station by 2035. It’ll be a five-module development. The first module might be lifted off by 2028, and we’re engaged on it,” he mentioned.

Revealed – February 10, 2026 01:45 pm IST