New Delhi- Expanding the Chandrayaan series, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the fourth mission to the Moon and also gave a green signal for the building of the first unit of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) by 2028.

The approval of the cabinet for the Gaganyaan follow-on missions and building of the first unit of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) has been given by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The revision in the Gaganyaan Programme will help in the development of the first module of the BAS. This will also help in completing the ongoing missions and establish the foundation for the growth of human space exploration in the country.

The Gaganyaan Programme was approved in December 2018. Its aim is to provide an opportunity for human space travel to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and establish a strong foundation for future Indian human space exploration missions. The programme envisions the creation of an operational Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and a Indian Crewed Lunar Mission by 2040.

The Bharatiya Antariksh Station will be a national centre for human space research and innovation. It will be built by ISRO, the Indian Space Agency, along with industry, academia, and other national agencies. The project management mechanism of the Gaganyaan Programme will be carried out by ISRO.

Under the Gaganyaan Programme, a total of eight missions are to be completed by December 2028. The country will acquire essential technological capabilities for human space missions to Low Earth Orbit through the Gaganyaan Programme. This will pave the way for future technological spin-offs and encourage innovations in key areas of research and development.

The Gaganyaan Programme has received an additional amount of Rs 11170 crore in funding in the already approved budget. The total funding for the Gaganyaan Programme with the revised scope has been enhanced to Rs 20193 crore. The government expects that this programme will provide employment opportunities to the youth of the country and also boost the economy.