ISRO Embarks on a Packed Launch Schedule as India’s Space Dreams Accelerate

ISRO is entering a high-activity phase with seven launches planned this financial year, including India’s first industry-built PSLV. Major upcoming missions include Chandrayaan‑4 (2028) and LUPEX with Japan. The agency aims to triple spacecraft production, build an Indian Space Station by 2035, and complete the Gaganyaan human mission in 2027, boosting India’s growing space ecosystem.

India’s space agency is gearing up for a remarkably busy phase, with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) preparing seven more launches before the close of this financial year. Chairman V. Narayanan confirmed that while activity is intensifying across multiple missions, India’s first human spaceflight remains firmly scheduled for 2027.

In a recent interview, Narayanan outlined ISRO’s roadmap for rapid expansion — both in technological capability and industrial collaboration. The initiatives underway, he said, mark the beginning of a new era where India’s space sector scales up to match growing global ambitions.

A Year of Seven Launches and New Industry Partnerships

Among the upcoming launches are missions powered by PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) and GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) stages, along with a commercial communication satellite. Notably, one of the key highlights will be the debut of the first PSLV fully built by Indian industry, showcasing the growing capabilities of private sector participation in space technology.

Major Missions: Chandrayaan-4 and LUPEX

Narayanan confirmed government approval for Chandrayaan-4, a landmark lunar sample-return mission tentatively set for 2028. Calling it India’s “most complex lunar mission yet,” he noted that it aims to retrieve moon samples—a feat so far achieved only by the US, Russia, and China.

Simultaneously, ISRO is collaborating with Japan’s JAXA on LUPEX (Lunar Polar Exploration Mission), which will probe the Moon’s south pole for water ice deposits, a critical step for future lunar colonization efforts.

Expanding Industrial and Scientific Capacity

Over the next three years, ISRO plans to triple its spacecraft production to meet the surging demand for missions. This expansion mirrors the broader goal of boosting India’s share in the global space economy from the current 2% to 8% by 2030.

India’s space economy, valued at USD 8.2 billion today, is projected to skyrocket to USD 44 billion by 2033, as part of a global industry expected to hit USD 1.8 trillion by 2035.

Building an Indian Space Station

Adding to the list of long-term milestones, ISRO has begun preliminary work on constructing an Indian Space Station, scheduled for completion by 2035. The first of five modules is expected to enter orbit by 2028. Once realized, this would establish India as the third major space power with its own orbital station, alongside the United States and China.

Gaganyaan and Beyond: India’s Human Spaceflight Agenda

Clarifying timelines for the Gaganyaan mission, Narayanan reaffirmed that uncrewed test flights are now planned from 2025, with the crewed mission on target for 2027. Before the astronauts lift off, three robotic test flights will validate systems and safety procedures.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also set a bold vision — to send Indian astronauts to the Moon and bring them safely back by 2040. This ambition positions India alongside major powers like the United States and China, which are pursuing their own crewed lunar programs under Artemis and planned 2030 missions, respectively.

Private Sector Momentum and Space Reforms

India’s space reforms over recent years have sharply increased private sector involvement. Narayanan highlighted that over 450 companies and 330 startups are now active in the country’s space ecosystem—a staggering jump from just a handful a few years ago.

This surge follows the 2020 policy reforms, which opened the door for private players to design and launch rockets, develop satellites, and offer commercial launch services. The result, Narayanan said, is a “vibrant and sustainable ecosystem” that continues to gain global attention.

As ISRO juggles a historic schedule of launches and projects, India’s space program stands at an inflection point — balancing its legacy of scientific achievement with an ambitious future aimed at human exploration, commercial growth, and sustained global leadership in space technology.