The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) unveiled a model of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) on Friday during the National Space Day celebrations at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
The BAS will be India’s first home-built space station, with its maiden module set for launch in 2028.
Once operational, India will join a select group of nations operating orbital laboratories. Currently, only the International Space Station (ISS) and China’s Tiangong Station are functional.
By 2035, Isro plans to assemble five BAS modules, creating a complete orbital laboratory.
The first unit, BAS-01, will weigh 10 tonnes and orbit Earth at an altitude of 450 km. Measuring 3.8 metres in diameter and 8 metres in length, the model was the centrepiece of the Space Day exhibition.
Key features of the BAS include an indigenous Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS), the Bharat Docking System, automated hatch mechanisms, microgravity research platforms, and dedicated viewports for scientific imaging and crew activities.
The station will also provide refuelling facilities, advanced radiation and debris protection, and support for extra-vehicular activities with space suits and airlocks.
A Platform for Research & Space Tourism
The BAS is expected to serve as a hub for research in space science, life sciences, and interplanetary exploration. It will allow scientists to study the impact of microgravity on human health and test technologies crucial for long-term human missions.
The facility will also pave the way for space tourism, with India planning to open its orbital laboratory to commercial ventures, thereby expanding opportunities in the global space economy.
Speaking at the event, PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, said that reforms in the sector have freed Isro to focus on frontier technologies while enabling private players to drive applications.
“Space sector reforms have made the future scalable, innovative and resilient,” he noted.
Mishra emphasised the integration of artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and big data analytics into future missions, alongside deeper international cooperation, citing projects such as the NASA-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite.
Mishra said India should position itself as a hub of affordable, inclusive and innovative space solutions for the world, and he added that the space journey links not just to science but also to national progress and self-reliance.
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