First module of Indian space station to launch by 2028: ISRO chief

“By 2028, we will launch the first module, that is the target. In another seven years, that is by 2035, we will build further modules and make the space station fully operational. This is because, for 2028 launch (of the first module) we do not have a powerful rocket, we have a rocket called LVM-3, which can only take 10 tonne, so the first module will be an eight-tonne mass module, which we will launch by 2028.”

“Future modules will be bigger, 20 to 25 tonnes… they cannot be launched in the current rocket, so we are developing a new rocket. We will seek approval for it and it will take about seven years to develop it. By that time, we can launch the heavier modules and make it operational so that human beings can go (to the space station). The 2028 launch will be a robotic module, a satellite, where we can dock, conduct experiments and come back. A human being going (to the space station) can happen only after 2035. This is the plan as of today,” he added.

Stressing on stronger industry-academia connect with a marriage between science and technology, Somanath said that India has to become a manufacturer of defence equipment and “possibly an exporter in the future”.

“One is connecting academia with industry, it is very very important and I think today the connect is still very weak… (Publishing in journals) is not enough. The research that you do in universities and institutions should go to industries, it should be used for product innovation, it should go to markets immediately, it should generate revenue and that revenue should feed into further research. I think this is a chain we have to create in every domain…,” he said.

“The focus on New Education Policy is to build that capability… I think the government is very much focused today to convert knowledge creation into wealth creation and this is the essence of the science policy being looked at today,” he added.

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