India's space station to have 5 modules, BAS-1 to take flight in 2028

With India aiming to have a fully operational space station– Bhartiya Antariksh Station (BAS), by 2035, the Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO) has finalised that the station will be a five- module configuration–base, core, science, lab and common working module. The station will be assembled in a phased manner with four precursor missions leading to the launch of BAS. These missions will lay the groundwork for future crewed missions and the development of indigenous technologies that will underpin India’s long-term space ambitions.

The first module of the BAS, the Base Module ( BAS-1), is slated for launch onboard ISRO's LVM-3 rocket by 2028, announced Hanumantray Baluragi, Director, Director for Human Spaceflight Programme (DHSP), during a talk on ‘India's Human Space Flight Programme.’ He said the configuration for the first module has been finalised.


“The first module will weigh approximately 52 tonnes. BAS-1 will serve as a test bed for essential technologies, such as life support systems and crew quarters, enabling extended stays in microgravity.” He added that while initially uncrewed, this module will be designed to accommodate future crewed missions after a series of successful test operations.”All modules will have individual solar panels except for the fifth one,” Baluragi explained.

Post the first crewed mission (Gaganyaan) involving four trained astronauts, ISRO will undertake one more crewed mission. This will aid the space agency in demonstrating multi crew missions for maximum duration, the director said. “The objective for the second crew mission will include demonstrating human-in-loop orbital manoeuvres and associated avionics systems for future docking missions–which is a critical technology,” Baluragi said. During this precursor mission the space agency will also demonstrate operations using indigenously developed intravehicular activity (IVA) and extravehicular activity (EVA) suits, which are now being outsourced through other space agencies.


The next precursor mission will be ‘space docking’ which will be uncrewed and will be critical in aiding India to become one of the few countries to have a base station in space. “We aim to demonstrate the interoperability of the Ganganyaan module with the existing space stations by integrating the International Docking System Standard (IDSS) compliant system for autonomous rendezvous and docking.”

While ISRO will source the docking technology through the international space agency (ISS) it will also develop an indigenously docking system that will be known as Bhartiya Docking System, the director said.

“The Indian space flight programme aims to enhance India’s contributions to microgravity research, including human health and disease, physical sciences, space biotechnology, and waste recycling technologies.”