Bharatiya Antariksh Station in orbit; indigenous missions exploring Moon, Mars: Former ISRO chief lists nation’s scientific priorities
Somanath also highlighted the role of satellite data in tropical cyclone monitoring and prediction, forest fire alerts, and disaster management
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Former ISRO chairman and renowned space scientist Dr S Somanath on Monday delivered a lecture as part of the the Panjab University’s (PU’s) Colloquium Series (Express Photo)Highlighting the country’s transformational journey in space under the 2023 Indian Space Policy, which opened the door to foreign direct investment and strengthened support for non-governmental entities, former ISRO chairman and renowned space scientist Dr S Somanath on Monday delivered a lecture as part of the the Panjab University’s (PU’s) Colloquium Series.
Somanath, currently serving as Vikram Sarabhai Distinguished Professor and President-elect of the Aeronautical Society of India (ASI), addressed the talk titled ‘Space Sector in India: Opportunities for Business and Startups,’ which focused on the growth of the country’s space sector, the role of private enterprises, and the future of space entrepreneurship in the country.
PU Vice-Chancellor (V-C) Renu Vig presided over the colloquium. In his lecture, the former ISRO chief spoke about the strategic and scientific priorities of India’s future in space, including Mars and Venus missions, reusable launch vehicles, and the planned Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) by 2035.
“Landing at the moon is not a pipe dream for India; we are working on it. By 2047, India aims to have a permanent human presence in space, a Bharatiya Antariksh Station in orbit, and indigenous missions exploring the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We’re not just following global trends — we’re shaping them, with reusable launchers, electric propulsion, and quantum-secure space communications,” he added. Somanath called on universities to actively participate in building a self-sustaining space research and industrial ecosystem.
Referring to various problems being faced by farmers, the scientist showcased how satellite-based technologies are now transforming farming. He spoke about ISRO’s remote sensing applications for crop insurance, yield estimation, and smart irrigation planning. Tools like the Krishi Decision Support System (Krishi-DSS), SASYA automated crop classification using RISAT-1A data, and agrometeorological products derived from INSAT-3DR are already supporting lakhs of farmers across India. These technologies have been integrated into schemes like PMFBY (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana) for efficient claim assessment and smart sampling.
Somanath also highlighted the role of satellite data in tropical cyclone monitoring and prediction, forest fire alerts, and disaster management. Platforms such as Bhuvan, the Indian Geo-Platform of ISRO, are providing web-based geospatial services for agriculture, forestry, disaster response, and governance, benefitting states like Punjab and Haryana. These innovations, he emphasised, can help farmers improve productivity, reduce risk, access timely information, and make evidence-based decisions.
The scientist noted that India’s shift from a government-funded model to a stakeholder-based space ecosystem has triggered a wave of innovation, with private satellite manufacturers, small launch vehicle developers, and data service providers gaining momentum. This expanding ecosystem, he argued, is expected to generate significant socio-economic benefits, job creation, and global market participation.
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