India’s Indigenous Space Station Project

In October 2024, ISRO and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) partnered to develop experiments for the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), India’s proposed space station expected between 2028-2035.

Key Points

BAS Experimental Focus: Research will explore the impact of weightlessness on muscle health, algae as a nutrient and food preservation solution, algae processing for jet fuel, and radiation’s effects on astronaut health.
Preparatory Missions Under Gaganyaan: Before BAS, ISRO’s priority is the Gaganyaan mission, India’s first crewed mission to space slated for 2025-2026. Three uncrewed test missions will precede it, with the possibility of including select biology experiments.
Context: Global Shift to National Space Stations: The International Space Station (ISS), operational since 1998, is set to retire by 2030. Countries like China have moved towards building their own stations, with Tiangong completed in 2022.
Integration with BIOE3 Policy: This ISRO-DBT collaboration aligns with DBT’s BIOE3 policy, aiming to boost India’s bio-manufacturing and bio-economy sectors. The agreement is set to advance space bio-manufacturing, biotherapeutics, regenerative medicine, and bio-based waste management technologies.
Bio-Economy Potential: The DBT estimates that India’s bio-economy could reach $300 billion by 2030, supported by innovations stemming from this partnership in space and biotechnology.