Why in news?
In a Lok Sabha session in August 2025, Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced that India aims to land an astronaut on the Moon by 2040. The announcement formed part of a roadmap for expanding the country’s human spaceflight programme.
India’s Moon mission
The proposed crewed lunar mission is part of India’s plan to become a major space power and to align the national space programme with the vision of a developed India (Viksit Bharat) by 2047.
Objectives
- Demonstrate the capability to send humans beyond Earth orbit and return them safely.
- Develop indigenous technologies for lunar landing, habitation and resource use.
- Integrate space achievements with national scientific, economic and security goals.
Key features
- Human landing: An Indian astronaut is expected to walk on the lunar surface by 2040.
- Indigenous development: India plans to rely on home‑grown launch vehicles, life‑support systems and surface technologies while remaining open to international collaboration.
- Economic vision: A successful mission will boost India’s share in the global space economy, projected to reach $45 billion.
Other milestones in India’s space roadmap
- 2026 – Vyommitra mission: An uncrewed flight featuring a humanoid robot to test Gaganyaan systems.
- 2027 – Gaganyaan: India’s first human spaceflight mission carrying astronauts in low Earth orbit.
- 2035 – Bharat Antariksh Station: Establishment of a national space station for long‑duration research.
- 2040 – Crewed Moon landing: India expects its astronaut to set foot on the Moon.
The announcement underscores India’s ambitions in human space exploration and signals continued investment in space technology and international partnerships.
