Shukla, who was selected as India’s Axiom astronaut from a pool of four Gaganyaan candidates, launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and docked with the ISS for an extended mission that included scientific experiments, technology demonstrations, and training activities. His 14-day stay — the longest by any Indian national in orbit — surpasses Rakesh Sharma’s pioneering 1984 mission aboard the Soviet Salyut 7 station, which lasted approximately 8 days.

The Mission Profile

Axiom Mission 4, the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS organised by Houston-based Axiom Space, carried a crew of four — including Shukla as a mission specialist representing India. The mission objectives were dual-purpose: advancing Axiom’s commercial space station programme while providing ISRO with invaluable experience in human spaceflight operations.

During his 14 days aboard the ISS, Shukla conducted a packed schedule of activities. He performed over 20 scientific experiments across disciplines including fluid physics in microgravity, plant growth in space, and the effects of radiation on biological samples. Several experiments were designed specifically by Indian research institutions, including IIT Madras and the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, focusing on areas relevant to India’s future space missions.

Shukla also underwent extensive training in EVA (Extra-Vehicular Activity) procedures, life support system management, and emergency protocols — skills that will be directly transferable to the Gaganyaan programme. ISRO Chairman S. Somanath said the mission provided “irreplaceable hands-on experience that no amount of ground simulation can replicate.”

India’s Space Ambitions

The Axiom-4 mission is intimately linked to India’s broader space ambitions. The Gaganyaan programme, India’s first indigenous human spaceflight mission, aims to send Indian astronauts into low Earth orbit aboard an Indian-made spacecraft launched by an Indian rocket. The programme, which has faced several delays since its announcement by Prime Minister Modi in 2018, is now targeted for its first crewed flight in 2027.

Shukla’s experience aboard the ISS provides critical inputs for Gaganyaan’s mission design. Every aspect of his stay — from the physiological effects of microgravity to the psychological challenges of living in a confined space for two weeks — will inform ISRO’s planning for its own crewed missions. The data collected during the mission will help Indian engineers design better life support systems, exercise regimes, and food protocols for Gaganyaan astronauts.

“Subhanshu is not just an astronaut — he is a bridge between international experience and Indian capability,” said ISRO Chairman Somanath. “What he brings back from the ISS will be instrumental in making Gaganyaan safe and successful.”

Scientific Achievements

Among the scientific highlights of Shukla’s ISS stay were experiments in protein crystallisation in microgravity — which could lead to advances in drug design for diseases prevalent in India — and the testing of an ISRO-developed water purification system designed for use in the Gaganyaan capsule. The water purification experiment, which uses a novel membrane technology developed at IIT Delhi, successfully demonstrated that the system can recycle water with over 95% efficiency in microgravity conditions.

Shukla also participated in Earth observation activities, capturing high-resolution images of the Indian subcontinent from the ISS’s Cupola observation module. The images, which included views of the Himalayas, the Ganges delta, and India’s coastline, were shared on ISRO’s social media platforms and generated widespread public engagement. In a nod to Rakesh Sharma’s famous “Saare jahan se achha” response when asked how India looked from space, Shukla described the view as “humbling and magnificent — our planet knows no borders.”

The ISRO-NASA Partnership

The Ax-4 mission underscores the deepening space cooperation between India and the United States. The two countries signed the Artemis Accords in 2023, and India has expressed interest in contributing to NASA’s lunar exploration programme. The ISS mission provides a practical foundation for future collaboration, including potential Indian participation in the Lunar Gateway station and joint Mars exploration initiatives.

For ISRO, which has earned global recognition through cost-effective missions like Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan, the human spaceflight domain represents the next frontier. The Axiom-4 mission demonstrates that India is not just a player in robotic space exploration but is building the capability for sustained human presence in space.

A National Moment

Back on Earth, Shukla’s mission has captured the imagination of the Indian public. Schools, colleges, and science institutions organised live viewing events for his launch and docking. Prime Minister Modi spoke with Shukla via video link during the mission, congratulating him and the ISRO team. The Prime Minister described the mission as “a proud moment for 140 crore Indians and a stepping stone toward India’s destiny among the stars.”

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As Shukla prepares for his return to Earth aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule, the mission’s success has reinforced India’s credentials as a spacefaring nation. From Rakesh Sharma’s 8 days in 1984 to Subhanshu Shukla’s 14 days in 2026, the journey has been long — but the destination, India’s own crewed missions, is now closer than ever.

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India has entered an exclusive global club in near-space technology after Vijayawada-based startup Red Balloon Aerospace successfully launched Mission Sana, the country’s first indigenous super-pressure balloon platform carrying commercial payloads into the stratosphere. The mission, launched from the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, on Tuesday morning, saw the company’s VISTA platform ascend to nearly 25 kilometres above Earth, a region that lies far above commercial aircraft but below satellites orbiting in space.

With this achievement, India joins the United States, France, Japan and China as one of only five countries with indigenous stratospheric hydrogen balloon capability. The successful mission carried seven payloads from national and international partners, testing biological experiments, propulsion systems, earth observation sensors, onboard computing platforms and navigation technologies, all of which completed their objectives successfully.

What Is Near-Space Technology and Why Does It Matter?

The stratosphere, spanning roughly 20 to 50 kilometres above the Earth’s surface, represents a largely untapped frontier that offers unique advantages for scientific research, telecommunications, earth observation and defence applications. This region, sometimes called near space, occupies the gap between conventional aviation and orbital space, offering many of the benefits of satellites at a fraction of the cost and with significantly greater flexibility.

Super-pressure balloons operating in the stratosphere can remain aloft for weeks or even months, providing persistent coverage over specific geographic areas. Unlike satellites, which follow fixed orbital paths and can only observe a given location for brief windows, stratospheric platforms can hover over regions of interest, making them ideal for applications such as disaster monitoring, agricultural surveillance, weather forecasting and telecommunications relay.

The technology is also of significant interest to defence establishments worldwide. Stratospheric platforms can serve as surveillance nodes, communications relays and even launch platforms for certain types of sensors and instruments. Their altitude places them above most weather systems and conventional anti-aircraft defences, while their relatively low cost compared to satellites makes them attractive for military applications that do not require the permanence of orbital assets.

Mission Sana: Technical Details and Payload Achievements

The VISTA platform used in Mission Sana is a zero-pressure to super-pressure transition balloon system designed and manufactured entirely in India by Red Balloon Aerospace. The balloon envelope, made from specialised polymer films capable of withstanding the extreme temperature variations and low pressures of the stratosphere, carried a payload gondola weighing approximately 15 kilograms to an altitude of 24.8 kilometres.

The seven payloads tested during the mission covered a diverse range of applications. A biological experiment package studied the effects of stratospheric radiation and low pressure on microbial samples, providing data relevant to astrobiology and pharmaceutical research. A miniaturised propulsion system was tested for potential use in future stratospheric manoeuvring vehicles, while an earth observation sensor captured high-resolution imagery of the surrounding landscape from near-space altitudes.

According to Red Balloon Aerospace, all seven payload objectives were completed successfully, with data transmitted in real time to the ground station in Vijayawada throughout the flight. The balloon maintained stable altitude at the target height for approximately 90 minutes before a controlled descent was initiated, with the payload gondola recovered intact approximately 45 kilometres from the launch site.

From Founding to Flight in Eight Months

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Mission Sana is the speed at which Red Balloon Aerospace went from inception to operational commercial flight. Founded in 2025, the company achieved its first successful flight within just eight months, one of the fastest development timelines in the global near-space industry. The speed of execution is being attributed to the company’s lean engineering approach and the availability of a growing ecosystem of space technology suppliers in India.

The company’s founding team includes engineers with backgrounds in aerospace, materials science and systems engineering, several of whom have experience working with India’s space research establishments. The team leveraged India’s cost advantages in manufacturing and testing to develop the VISTA platform at a fraction of the cost that comparable systems would require in Western countries.

Red Balloon Aerospace has already announced plans for its next mission, tentatively scheduled for the third quarter of 2026, which will aim to demonstrate extended-duration flights lasting several days. The company is also in discussions with potential customers in the telecommunications, agriculture and defence sectors for commercial applications of its platform.

India’s Growing Private Space Ecosystem

Mission Sana is the latest milestone in India’s rapidly expanding private space ecosystem, which has seen a surge of startup activity following the establishment of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre, known as IN-SPACe, as a single-window facilitator for private space ventures. The success of companies like Skyroot Aerospace, Agnikul Cosmos and now Red Balloon Aerospace is demonstrating that India’s space ambitions extend well beyond the government-led rocket launch paradigm into innovative new domains.

The near-space segment, in particular, is attracting attention from investors and strategic partners who see stratospheric platforms as a cost-effective complement to satellite constellations. Industry estimates suggest the global near-space market could grow to 5 billion US dollars by 2030, driven by demand for persistent surveillance, telecommunications coverage in remote areas and climate monitoring applications.

For India, the successful demonstration of indigenous stratospheric balloon capability opens new doors for both civilian and strategic applications, potentially reducing dependence on foreign technology for critical near-space operations and creating export opportunities in a rapidly growing global market.

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Space Programme Takes Centre Stage

Opening the episode, PM Modi highlighted India’s achievements in space exploration and linked them to the broader narrative of nation-building. “India has always viewed science as linked with the nation’s progress. With this vision, our scientists are advancing the space programme. Due to their efforts, this programme is making a significant contribution to nation-building,” he said.

The Prime Minister’s comments come at a time when ISRO is preparing for several milestone missions, including the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme scheduled for 2027. India’s space sector has seen remarkable growth, with the Indian space economy reaching $13 billion and private players like Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos contributing to the ecosystem. Modi praised the scientists and engineers behind these achievements, noting that India’s space programme was unique in combining affordability with cutting-edge technology.

Buddha Purnima Greetings and a Message of Peace

With Buddha Purnima approaching in early May, PM Modi extended his greetings and used the occasion to call on the world to follow Lord Buddha’s ideals of peace and non-violence. “The month of May is starting with an auspicious occasion,” he said, adding that Buddha’s messages are needed for the present as well as the future.

The Prime Minister’s emphasis on peace was widely interpreted as a reference to the ongoing global uncertainty, particularly the US-Iran conflict that has disrupted energy markets and shipping lanes. Without naming any specific geopolitical situation, Modi underscored that India’s civilisational heritage offers solutions to the challenges facing the modern world. He noted that Union Home Minister Amit Shah would visit Leh the following week to pay obeisance to Lord Buddha’s relics — connecting the spiritual message to concrete government action in promoting Buddhist heritage.

Honouring the First War of Independence

“The month of May also reminds us of the first war of independence in 1857. I pay my respects to all the brave sons and daughters of Mother India who awakened the spirit of patriotism in people,” PM Modi declared. The reference to the 1857 revolt, which began in Meerut and spread across northern India, resonated with the nationalist themes that have been a consistent thread through the Mann Ki Baat series.

The PM encouraged citizens, particularly young people, to visit museums and historical sites connected to the 1857 uprising and to learn about the sacrifices of freedom fighters like Mangal Pandey, Rani Lakshmibai, and Tantia Tope. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to preserve and promote these historical sites through the government’s heritage conservation programmes. The UNESCO World Heritage nominations and digital preservation initiatives were cited as examples of India honouring its history while embracing the future.

Election Season and Citizens’ Letters

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Acknowledging the ongoing election season — with Gujarat local body elections on the same day and the second phase of West Bengal assembly elections imminent — Modi noted that he had received numerous letters and messages from citizens. “Amid the hustle and bustle of the elections, through your messages and letters, we have shared happiness on the achievements of the citizens,” he said, before pivoting to highlight individual stories of innovation and community service shared by listeners.

The Prime Minister has consistently used Mann Ki Baat as a platform to celebrate grassroots innovation and social enterprise, a tradition that continued in this episode. He highlighted several examples of community-led initiatives, from river rejuvenation projects to youth-led fitness movements, tying them to the broader themes of community well-being and digital wellness that have featured prominently in recent government policy.

Fit India and the Sunday Cycling Movement

PM Modi also drew attention to the “Sunday on Cycle” initiative, noting that cycling events were being organised every Sunday at over 16,000 locations across the country as part of the Fit India movement. He mentioned that a special cycling event was being held at Dal Sarovar in Srinagar as part of a three-day Chintan Shivir organised by the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry.

“A fit citizen is essential for a prosperous nation,” Modi said, encouraging people of all ages to embrace cycling as a sustainable and healthy form of exercise. The cycling initiative aligns with the government’s broader push for sustainable urban mobility and reduced carbon emissions.

Also Read: Space & ISRO News

What Sets the 133rd Episode Apart

The 133rd episode stood out for its thematic coherence — weaving together science, spirituality, history, and citizen engagement into a narrative of national progress. As India navigates a complex geopolitical environment and prepares for key elections and scientific milestones, Mann Ki Baat continues to serve as the Prime Minister’s direct channel to the public, bypassing traditional media to shape the national conversation on his terms.

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The constellation builds on an initial plan for 52 satellites and has since been expanded to 55 to provide additional redundancy and coverage. The system is designed to ensure that Indian military commanders have continuous access to high-resolution imagery and signals intelligence from space, eliminating the coverage gaps that currently exist with India’s limited fleet of military observation satellites.

Architecture and Technology

The constellation employs what defence planners call a Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (pLEO) architecture — a strategy that distributes capability across many small, relatively inexpensive satellites rather than concentrating it in a few large, expensive ones. This approach, pioneered by the United States Space Development Agency, offers two critical advantages: resilience against anti-satellite attacks and lower individual replacement costs.

The satellite fleet will incorporate a hybrid imaging system combining Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for all-weather, day-and-night surveillance with high-resolution optical sensors for detailed visual imagery. SAR technology is particularly valuable in the Indian context, where cloud cover, monsoon conditions, and nighttime operations frequently limit the utility of conventional optical satellites.

The programme also includes secure inter-satellite communication links, enabling the constellation to relay data rapidly between nodes and downlink intelligence to ground stations with minimal latency. This capability is essential for time-sensitive military applications, from detecting troop movements to monitoring naval activities across the Indian Ocean. The project fits within India’s broader $13 billion space economy that encompasses both civilian and defence applications.

Why India Needs Space-Based Surveillance

India’s current space-based military surveillance relies on a handful of dedicated defence satellites supplemented by dual-use earth observation platforms. While these systems — including the RISAT radar imaging series and the Cartosat optical satellites — have served the armed forces well, they provide coverage windows rather than continuous monitoring.

In a modern military environment, where adversaries can exploit gaps between satellite passes to move assets, launch operations, or conduct tests, continuous coverage is no longer a luxury but a necessity. China’s rapidly expanding space programme, which includes dedicated military constellations numbering in the hundreds, has accelerated India’s urgency to build comparable capabilities.

The border situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China adds another dimension. High-altitude terrain, extreme weather, and vast distances make ground-based surveillance challenging. Space-based assets can monitor infrastructure development, troop deployments, and equipment movements across the entire LAC simultaneously, providing strategic warning that ground sensors cannot match. ISRO’s expanded role in defence-adjacent space missions has been instrumental in advancing this capability.

Role of Indian Private Space Companies

A distinctive feature of the 55-satellite programme is its reliance on India’s private space sector for key components. Under the Mission DefSpace framework, administered through the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) programme, private startups are being tasked with developing dual-use technologies including satellite bus platforms, miniaturised sensors, debris management systems, and secure communication modules.

Companies like Pixxel, which already operates commercial hyperspectral imaging satellites, are potential candidates for supplying sensor technology. Dhruva Space, which builds satellite platforms, and Azista-BST Aerospace, which manufactures spacecraft subsystems, are among the firms positioned to contribute. The involvement of private companies is expected to reduce costs and accelerate production timelines compared to a purely government-led approach.

This public-private collaboration mirrors the approach taken by the United States with its SDA Tranche programmes, where commercial satellite manufacturers build systems to military specifications. For India’s space startups, defence contracts of this scale represent a transformative business opportunity — and a validation of the government’s decision to open the sector. The programme is being developed alongside ISRO’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme and other high-priority missions.

Launch Strategy and Timeline

Launching 55 satellites requires a robust and flexible launch strategy. ISRO’s PSLV, which has a proven track record of deploying multiple satellites in a single mission, is expected to handle a significant portion of the launches. However, the programme may also utilise commercial launch providers — including India’s emerging private launch companies — to maintain the required deployment cadence.

The first batch of satellites is expected to reach orbit by late 2027, with the full constellation operational by 2030. The phased deployment allows the military to begin utilising partial constellation capability even as additional satellites are being manufactured and launched. The constellation’s design incorporates on-orbit sparing, meaning extra satellites are positioned in orbit to quickly replace any that malfunction or are damaged.

Geopolitical Context

India’s military space expansion comes against the backdrop of accelerating orbital weaponisation globally. China conducted a controversial anti-satellite missile test as early as 2007 and has since developed co-orbital inspection vehicles, directed-energy systems, and cyber capabilities targeting space assets. Russia has tested ground-based anti-satellite missiles, most recently in 2021 when it destroyed one of its own defunct satellites, generating thousands of debris fragments.

India itself demonstrated anti-satellite capability in 2019 with Mission Shakti, which destroyed a low-orbit target satellite. However, the 55-satellite constellation represents a shift from offensive demonstration to defensive resilience — the idea being that a proliferated architecture with dozens of replaceable nodes is far harder to neutralise than a small number of high-value targets. This strategic pivot aligns with the global push toward responsible space operations and debris mitigation.

For the Indian military, the constellation promises to be a game-changer. From monitoring Chinese infrastructure along the LAC to tracking naval movements in the Indian Ocean, from providing targeting data for precision strikes to supporting humanitarian operations during natural disasters, the applications are vast. As India’s defence budget grows and its scientific and space capabilities expand, the 55-satellite constellation stands as one of the most important strategic investments of the decade.

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The rocket, named after Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space programme, is designed to carry approximately 350 kilograms of payload to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The debut flight will carry several cubesats, with specific payload identities to be confirmed closer to launch. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is expected to attend the flagging ceremony, underscoring the state government’s investment in aerospace development.

From Vikram-S to Vikram-1: The Journey

Skyroot Aerospace made history in November 2022 when it launched Vikram-S, a suborbital sounding rocket, from Sriharikota. That mission, named “Prarambh” (meaning “the beginning”), made Skyroot the first Indian private company to launch a rocket into space. The six-kilogram vehicle reached an altitude of 89.5 kilometres and demonstrated the viability of Skyroot’s solid propulsion technology.

Vikram-1 represents a quantum leap in capability. Standing significantly taller and heavier than Vikram-S, the orbital-class vehicle features a three-stage solid propulsion system with a liquid-fuelled terminal stage for precise orbital insertion. The development programme has taken over three years of testing, including multiple static fire tests and structural qualification campaigns. Skyroot’s progress is part of the broader story of India’s booming $13 billion space economy and the 200-plus startups fuelling the country’s new space race.

What Makes Vikram-1 Different

Unlike ISRO’s workhorses — the PSLV and GSLV — which are designed for medium to heavy payloads, Vikram-1 targets the dedicated small satellite launch market. With the global demand for small satellite launches growing at over 20 per cent annually, Skyroot is positioning itself to serve customers who need quick, dedicated access to orbit without sharing a ride on a larger vehicle.

The rocket’s manufacturing incorporates advanced carbon composite structures, which reduce weight while maintaining structural integrity. Skyroot claims that its production process is designed for rapid turnaround, with the goal of eventually conducting multiple launches per month from a single production line.

“Subject to launch port availability and from a manufacturing readiness standpoint, we are aiming at four to six launches this financial year,” Skyroot CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana told VIA Satellite magazine in March 2026. “Depending on the observations of the first flight, we may have to adjust that. But currently, we do plan to follow up quickly.”

India’s Private Space Ecosystem Matures

Skyroot is not operating in isolation. India’s private space sector has exploded since the government opened the industry to private participation in 2020 through the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe). Over 200 space-related startups now operate in the country, spanning launch vehicles, satellite manufacturing, ground systems, and space technology innovation.

Agnikul Cosmos, another Hyderabad-area startup, is developing the Agnibaan rocket with the world’s first single-piece 3D-printed engine. Pixxel operates a constellation of hyperspectral imaging satellites. Dhruva Space provides satellite platforms and antenna systems. Together, these companies form an ecosystem that is transforming India from a space power defined solely by ISRO into one with a vibrant commercial sector.

ISRO itself has embraced the shift. The space agency now shares its launch infrastructure with private companies, offers technology transfers, and provides testing facilities. This collaboration model — sometimes described as “ISRO as the enabler” — draws parallels to how NASA’s partnerships with SpaceX and Blue Origin transformed the American launch market. Meanwhile, ISRO’s own Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme continues to advance toward its 2027 target.

Challenges Ahead

Debut launches are inherently risky. The history of orbital rocketry is littered with first-flight failures, from early American and Soviet programmes to more recent stumbles by companies like Virgin Orbit and Astra. Skyroot’s engineering team has conducted extensive ground testing, but the transition from ground tests to actual flight always introduces unknowns, including aerodynamic loads, stage separation dynamics, and thermal environments that cannot be perfectly replicated on the ground.

If the debut succeeds, Skyroot will join an exclusive club of private companies worldwide that have achieved orbital flight — a list that currently includes SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and a handful of Chinese firms. For India, it would represent a validation of the policy reforms that opened the sector and a signal to global investors that the country can produce world-class launch services.

What Comes Next for Skyroot

Beyond Vikram-1, Skyroot is already developing Vikram-2, a larger rocket capable of carrying over one tonne to LEO. The company has raised over $100 million in funding from investors including GIC (Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund), alongside contributions from the growing global interest in sustainable space operations. With plans for Vikram-2 development running in parallel, Skyroot aims to offer a full range of launch services covering payloads from 50 kilograms to over 1,000 kilograms.

As ISRO completes critical Gaganyaan milestones, the parallel progress of companies like Skyroot ensures that India’s space ambitions are not dependent on a single organisation. The Vikram-1 debut, whether it succeeds on the first attempt or requires iteration, marks a defining chapter in India’s journey from a government-only space programme to a full-spectrum space power.

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Gaganyaan: The 2027 Promise

ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan has repeatedly stated that the crewed Gaganyaan mission will launch in 2027. The four astronaut-designates have completed training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Russia and at ISRO’s own Human Space Flight Centre in Bengaluru. India’s Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla became the country’s second person in space in early 2025, spending time aboard the International Space Station as part of a NASA Axiom mission, providing Indian scientists with invaluable real-world data on microgravity physiology.

Yet as an India Today investigation published on April 15, 2026 detailed, the gap between ISRO’s announced timeline and ground reality is significant. At the heart of the concern lies a fundamental unfinished checklist: India is yet to complete two critical uncrewed test missions that must precede any human spaceflight.

The Uncrewed-Mission Bottleneck

Gaganyaan’s architecture demands at least two successful uncrewed orbital flights before a crewed mission can be cleared. ISRO has completed the second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) of the crew module parachute system, but the full-duration orbital flight tests — designated G1 and G2 — are still in the integration phase. No firm dates have been publicly announced, and insiders acknowledge that the LVM3 (GSLV Mk III) launch vehicle requires additional qualification flights with the crew-escape system active.

If the first uncrewed orbital test does not happen before mid-2026, pushing the crewed flight to late 2027 becomes almost impossible given the mandatory analysis window between missions. A 2028 target would be more realistic — but ISRO is under political pressure to deliver before the next general election cycle.

NISAR: The Crown Jewel of Indo-US Space Cooperation

Separate from Gaganyaan, the NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite stands as the most ambitious joint project between the Indian and American space agencies. NISAR will use dual-frequency radar to map Earth’s changing surface with unprecedented precision — tracking glaciers, earthquakes, landslides, and crop health. The satellite is in its final integration and testing phase, with a launch window expected in the coming months aboard an ISRO GSLV Mk II.

NISAR represents more than just science: it is a statement of geopolitical alignment. At a time when US–India relations are being tested by trade tariffs, the space partnership demonstrates enduring strategic collaboration in an area that matters to both nations.

India’s 300-Startup Space Boom

While ISRO operates the national programme, the private sector is where the real disruption is happening. The Economic Survey 2026 highlighted that India now has over 300 active space startups, up from fewer than 50 in 2020. The transformation was catalysed by the Indian Space Research Organisation’s decision to open the sector through IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) and the comprehensive Space Policy of 2023.

Key players include:

• Skyroot Aerospace: Hyderabad-based Skyroot, which made history in 2022 with India’s first privately launched rocket (Vikram-S), has raised $27.5 million in a round led by Singapore’s Temasek. The company is developing the Vikram-1 orbital vehicle, targeting its first commercial payload delivery in 2026–27.
• Agnikul Cosmos: Chennai’s Agnikul is building the world’s first single-piece 3D-printed semi-cryogenic rocket engine, Agnilet. The startup has conducted successful sub-orbital test flights and is on track for an orbital attempt later this year.
• Pixxel: A Bengaluru startup that operates a constellation of hyperspectral imaging satellites, Pixxel has signed contracts with governments and enterprises for agricultural monitoring, disaster response, and urban planning.
• Dhruva Space: Focused on satellite deployment and space situational awareness, Dhruva has partnered with international clients and India’s thriving startup ecosystem continues to channel venture capital into space technology.

Debris and Sustainability

India is also taking space sustainability seriously. ISRO’s Space Debris Research Centre (SDRC) reported that 36 rocket bodies re-entered Earth’s atmosphere in 2025 under its Debris-Free Space Mission, which targets zero debris contribution by 2030. The programme has been praised internationally and positions India as a responsible space-faring nation — a critical diplomatic asset as global discussions on orbital traffic management intensify.

The Commercial Launch Market

ISRO’s commercial arm, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), has been expanding its launch services to foreign clients. The PSLV remains one of the most cost-effective and reliable small-satellite launchers in the world, and NSIL is working to increase launch frequency to 12–15 missions per year by 2028. For private players, the goal is to complement ISRO’s heavy-lift capabilities with smaller, more frequent, and cheaper access to orbit — a market currently dominated by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Rocket Lab’s Electron.

What’s Next

The next 12 months will be decisive for India’s space ambitions. If ISRO can execute the G1 uncrewed orbital test by late 2026, Gaganyaan remains a plausible 2027 mission. If delays persist, the programme risks becoming a symbol of ambition outpacing execution. Meanwhile, the private sector will continue to attract global investment and talent, gradually making India a full-spectrum space power — from launch vehicles and satellites to ground infrastructure and data analytics.

Track the latest in Indian space technology and ISRO updates on Space & ISRO at Daily Tips.

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The ISSAR report comes at a critical time when space debris is emerging as one of the most pressing challenges facing the global space industry. With thousands of satellites being launched annually by companies like SpaceX, OneWeb, and Amazon’s Project Kuiper, the risk of orbital collisions has never been higher. India, as the world’s third most active space-faring nation, is making significant strides in responsible space stewardship.

Key Findings from the ISSAR 2025 Report

The report presents several important data points about India’s space debris footprint:

• 36 rocket bodies re-entered Earth’s atmosphere by December 2025, including spent stages from PSLV, GSLV, LVM3, and SSLV missions
• No SSLV rocket bodies remained in orbit by the end of 2025, demonstrating effective disposal of the small satellite launch vehicle’s stages
• 129 trackable space debris objects originating from Indian missions remain in orbit as of March 2026, comprising: 23 defunct LEO satellites, 26 defunct GEO satellites, 40 PSLV rocket bodies, 4 GSLV rocket bodies, 3 LVM3 rocket bodies, and 33 debris fragments from the PSLV-C3 rocket body in-orbit breakup
• Over 1.5 lakh (150,000) close approach alerts were issued by the Combined Space Operations Centre (CSpOC) of US Space Command for ISRO’s Earth-orbiting satellites during the reporting period

The data shows that ISRO is actively managing the return of spent rocket stages to Earth, preventing them from becoming long-term orbital debris. The 36 re-entries demonstrate a systematic approach to ensuring that rocket bodies do not accumulate in low Earth orbit, where they pose the greatest collision risk. India’s scientific research community has lauded this transparency.

2025: A Mixed Year for ISRO Launches

The report also covers ISRO’s five launches from the Sriharikota spaceport in 2025:

• GSLV-F15/NVS-02 — Successfully placed a navigation satellite in designated orbit
• PSLV-C61/EOS-09 — Suffered a third-stage anomaly resulting in a suborbital flight; the Earth Observation Satellite could not be injected into orbit
• GSLV-F16/NISAR — Successfully launched the joint NASA-ISRO synthetic aperture radar satellite, one of the most complex Earth observation missions ever
• LVM3-M5/CMS-03 — Successfully placed a communication satellite in orbit
• LVM3-M6/Blue Bird Block-2 — Successfully completed the mission

The PSLV-C61 anomaly was a notable setback, as PSLV has been ISRO’s most reliable workhorse with an otherwise excellent success rate. However, the successful NISAR mission with NASA — which will provide unprecedented data on Earth’s ecosystems, ice masses, and natural hazards — was a highlight of the year. As India’s science and space programme continues to mature, both successes and setbacks contribute to institutional learning.

The Debris-Free Space Mission (DFSM)

ISRO’s Debris-Free Space Mission, announced in 2024, is one of the world’s most ambitious space sustainability initiatives. The goal is clear: by 2030, zero debris will be created by any Indian actor — government or private — in space. This means every satellite, rocket body, and mission component must either be deorbited (brought back to burn up in the atmosphere) or moved to graveyard orbits at the end of its operational life.

To achieve this, ISRO has implemented several key measures:

• Extra fuel margins for both spacecraft and launch vehicles, built into mission design from the project initialisation phase
• Passivation protocols — draining residual fuel from spent rocket stages to prevent in-orbit explosions
• Active deorbiting — programming satellites to lower their orbit and re-enter the atmosphere at end of life
• International collaboration — cooperative efforts with NASA, ESA, and JAXA on space debris research and tracking

India’s adherence to guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) and the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) demonstrates its commitment to responsible space operations. The Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme has incorporated debris awareness into its mission planning as well.

The Global Space Debris Challenge

The ISSAR report arrives against a backdrop of growing international concern about space debris. As of 2026, approximately 36,000 objects larger than 10 cm are being tracked in orbit, along with hundreds of thousands of smaller fragments that are too small to track but large enough to damage or destroy satellites. The Kessler Syndrome — a theoretical scenario where cascading collisions render certain orbital zones unusable — is no longer science fiction but a genuine risk.

ISRO’s proactive approach to debris management positions India favourably in international discussions about space sustainability norms. As environmental consciousness grows, the same principles of sustainability that apply on Earth are increasingly relevant in orbit. India’s AI and technology capabilities are being deployed for conjunction analysis — predicting close approaches between objects in orbit — with ISRO processing hundreds of alerts daily to safeguard its satellite constellation.

What Comes Next

Looking ahead, ISRO’s 2026 launch manifest is expected to include multiple PSLV and LVM3 missions, the continuation of the Gaganyaan programme, and potentially India’s first private-sector orbital launch. Each mission will incorporate the DFSM guidelines, ensuring that India’s space ambitions do not come at the cost of orbital sustainability.

As Indian Space Secretary and ISRO Chairman S. Somanath has stated: “India will not pollute space. Every mission we fly will leave orbit cleaner than we found it.” With 36 rocket bodies safely returned to Earth and a clear roadmap to zero debris by 2030, India is walking the talk on space sustainability.

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What Is the Integrated Air Drop Test

The Integrated Air Drop Tests form a vital component of the Gaganyaan mission’s safety validation process. During each test, a prototype crew module is released from an Indian Air Force aircraft at high altitude to simulate real-life emergency escape and recovery scenarios. Engineers monitor the full descent sequence, including parachute deployment, stability control during freefall, deceleration through multiple parachute stages, and the module’s ability to perform a controlled splashdown in designated recovery zones.

IADT-02 builds on the success of the first test, IADT-01, by evaluating the system under a different set of parameters and environmental conditions. ISRO officials confirmed that all mission objectives for IADT-02 were achieved, reinforcing confidence in the parachute sequencing, the structural integrity of the crew module under dynamic loads, and the precision of the recovery system. These tests are designed to ensure that astronauts can safely return to Earth under both normal re-entry conditions and emergency abort situations. The progress strengthens the broader ISRO and space science ecosystem that India has been building for decades.

Why Parachute Systems Are Critical for Gaganyaan

The crew module’s parachute system is arguably the single most important safety mechanism in any crewed space mission. During re-entry from orbit, the module travels at extremely high velocities and must decelerate gradually to ensure a safe landing or splashdown. The system employs a staged approach: drogue parachutes deploy first to stabilise the module and reduce its initial velocity, followed by pilot parachutes that extract the main canopies. The fully deployed main parachutes then slow the module to a safe descent speed.

Any failure in this sequence could prove catastrophic. The integrated air drop tests allow ISRO to verify each stage independently and as a combined system, identifying potential failure points and refining the design before human lives are at stake. IADT-02 specifically focused on confirming the reliability of parachute sequencing under varied atmospheric conditions, a key requirement for mission certification.

Gaganyaan Mission Timeline and Progress

The Gaganyaan programme has followed a methodical, safety-first approach since its formal announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018. The ISRO launch calendar for 2026 maps out its busiest year yet, with the Gaganyaan G1 uncrewed orbital test flight among the most anticipated missions. The G1 mission will send an unmanned crew module into orbit and return it safely, serving as a full dress rehearsal before the crewed flight.

Key milestones achieved so far include the successful completion of the crew escape system pad abort test in 2023, the qualification of the crew module’s thermal protection system, the certification of the service module’s propulsion system, and the selection and training of Indian astronaut candidates at facilities in India and partner agencies abroad. The final abort test for the crew module was successfully completed earlier in 2026, clearing a major technical hurdle.

India’s Astronaut Training Programme

India’s four Gaganyaan astronaut candidates, all Indian Air Force test pilots, have undergone extensive training that includes classroom sessions on orbital mechanics, zero-gravity simulation, survival training for both land and sea recovery scenarios, and spacecraft systems familiarisation. Initial phases of training were conducted in Russia at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, with subsequent modules held at ISRO facilities in Bengaluru and the astronaut training centre in Challakere, Karnataka.

The astronaut training programme has also benefited from collaboration with international partners, including NASA, ESA, and Roscosmos. These partnerships have enabled Indian astronauts to gain experience with established human spaceflight protocols and emergency procedures, supplementing ISRO’s own rapidly developing capabilities.

IADT-02 in the Context of Global Space Programmes

India’s progress toward crewed spaceflight places it alongside a select group of nations that have independently developed the capability to send humans into space. Currently, only the United States, Russia, and China have achieved crewed orbital missions using their own launch vehicles and spacecraft. India’s successful completion of IADT-02 signals that the country is steadily closing the gap. The broader Indian science and space community views Gaganyaan as a defining moment for the nation’s technological ambitions.

The test also comes at a time of heightened global interest in human spaceflight, with NASA’s Artemis programme aiming to return astronauts to the Moon, China expanding its Tiangong space station, and private companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Axiom Space conducting commercial missions. India’s entry into the crewed spaceflight arena is expected to boost its position in the global space economy, attract international collaboration, and inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers.

What Lies Ahead After IADT-02

Following the successful completion of IADT-02, ISRO’s next steps include finalising the crew module’s design based on test data, completing the integration of the launch vehicle with the crew module for the G1 uncrewed orbital mission, and conducting any additional qualification tests required before the final crewed flight. The broader Indian science and technology landscape, including the Amaravati Quantum Valley and advanced transistor breakthroughs, continues to support the mission’s ambitions.

ISRO Chairman S Somanath has repeatedly emphasised that safety is the programme’s non-negotiable priority. Each test, each validation, and each review is designed to ensure that when Indian astronauts finally launch into orbit, they do so with the highest possible confidence in their spacecraft and its systems. The successful completion of IADT-02 is one more step on that carefully planned journey from Sriharikota to orbit and back.

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Scope of the Partnership

The MoU was signed by Dinesh Kumar Singh, Director of ISRO’s Human Spaceflight Centre, and Dr Srinivas M, Director of AIIMS, in the presence of Dr V Narayanan, Chairman of ISRO and Secretary of the Department of Space. The agreement establishes a framework for joint research aligned with ISRO’s priority areas, with a shared objective of advancing human health, performance and safety during human space missions.

The collaboration targets ground-based and space-based studies to develop multidisciplinary space medicine expertise, medical devices, procedures and protocols for maintaining human health under extreme conditions. Research areas include the physiological effects of microgravity, radiation exposure management, cardiovascular adaptation, and bone density loss prevention.

Why Space Medicine Matters for India

Long-duration missions such as the Bharatiya Antariksh Station and crewed lunar expeditions present unique medical challenges. The human body undergoes significant changes in microgravity: muscles atrophy without resistance exercise, bones lose density at a rate of roughly 1 to 2 per cent per month, and cardiovascular function adapts to the absence of gravitational loading.

The ISRO space programme has accelerated rapidly in recent years. The Gaganyaan crew module completed its final abort test earlier this year, bringing India closer to its first crewed space flight. AIIMS’s expertise in clinical research and multi-organ studies makes it an ideal partner for addressing the medical unknowns of human spaceflight.

Earth-Based Benefits

Space medicine research frequently yields discoveries that benefit terrestrial healthcare. Technologies developed for monitoring astronaut health can be adapted for remote patient monitoring, telemedicine in rural areas, and rehabilitation medicine. The ISRO-AIIMS partnership specifically includes provisions for translating space research findings into public health applications.

The NISAR satellite mission with NASA has already demonstrated how Indo-international scientific collaborations can deliver world-class results. The space medicine MoU follows a similar model of pairing ISRO’s space engineering expertise with domain-specific institutional knowledge.

Building a Space Medicine Ecosystem

India currently lacks a dedicated space medicine research institute, a gap that the ISRO-AIIMS collaboration aims to begin filling. The MoU includes provisions for training programmes, visiting researcher exchanges, and the development of a space medicine curriculum that could eventually be offered at AIIMS and other premier medical institutions.

The partnership also aligns with broader scientific research priorities in India. With the IMD warning of extended heatwave conditions and climate-related health challenges growing, the medical monitoring technologies developed for astronauts could find application in heat stress management and environmental health surveillance on the ground.

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Launched on 30 July 2025 aboard a GSLV-F16 rocket, NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) is designed to measure changes in Earth’s surface — ice sheets, forests, wetlands, agricultural land, and tectonic plates — with a precision that no previous satellite has achieved. The spacecraft carries two SAR instruments: NASA’s L-band radar and ISRO’s S-band radar, together capable of mapping the entire globe every 12 days regardless of weather or lighting conditions.

First Images Showcase Game-Changing Capabilities

The Pacific Northwest images, released on 27 March 2026, were captured on 10 November 2025 during one of the cloudiest periods on record for Seattle and Portland. NISAR’s L-band radar sliced through the cloud cover to reveal detailed surface topography of Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens, two of the most closely monitored volcanoes in the United States. An earlier image of the Mississippi River Delta, released in January, showed varying surface types in the Louisiana wetlands with a level of detail that could help scientists track coastal erosion and land subsidence in real time.

The mission sits at the heart of ISRO’s expanding space science portfolio. The satellite’s data is expected to be crucial for monitoring natural disasters, tracking deforestation, measuring groundwater depletion, and understanding how climate change is reshaping landscapes. For India specifically, NISAR’s capabilities could help monitor Himalayan glacier retreat, agricultural land use changes, and urban expansion — all critical concerns for a country with 1.4 billion people and rapidly changing geography. The science and space community has called the mission one of the most important Earth observation projects of the decade.

India’s Space Ambitions Accelerate

NISAR’s success comes as ISRO is simultaneously advancing multiple ambitious programmes. The Gaganyaan crew module recently completed its final abort test, bringing India closer to its first crewed space mission. ISRO also signed a landmark MoU with AIIMS for space medicine research, while its latest satellite launch, EOS-N1 aboard PSLV-C62 in January 2026, extended India’s unbroken streak of successful missions.

NASA established its NISAR DART (Data, Applications, Research, and Technology) team in February 2026 to replace traditional science teams, reflecting a new approach to managing Earth science missions. The DART structure is designed to ensure that NISAR’s data reaches scientists, policymakers, and disaster response agencies quickly. India’s own research output hit record highs in 2026 as the Anusandhan National Research Foundation began funding, and NISAR data is expected to further boost India’s contributions to global Earth science.

What NISAR Will Reveal Next

As the satellite enters its full science operations phase, researchers expect it to deliver transformative data on ice sheet dynamics in Greenland and Antarctica, forest biomass measurements critical for climate models, and surface deformation data for earthquake-prone regions including the Himalayan arc. With a planned mission life of at least three years, NISAR is poised to become one of the most valuable Earth observation tools ever deployed — and a defining achievement of the NASA-ISRO partnership.

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