Modi mulls plan to build pool of astronauts, urges youth to join in

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged India’s youth to join the pool of astronauts that the country will soon create for future missions.

In a video message on National Space Day, Modi also called on space startups to aim at building five unicorns in the sector over the next five years.

“We are coming up with a pool of astronauts soon. I invite young people to join this pool. There will be immense opportunities in the space sector. I would also urge space startups to create unicorns in the next five years. Today, we see five to six launches a year, but I hope we reach a point where we can launch one rocket every week,” he said.

Recalling India’s milestones, the Prime Minister said in 2023 the country became the first to reach the moon’s South Pole, and this year it became the fourth nation to successfully conduct undocking and docking of satellites in space.

He stressed that the private sector must take the lead in enabling India to achieve weekly rocket launches. He added that while India is advancing in breakthrough technologies such as the semi-cryogenic engine and electric propulsion, “the time has come to explore those regions of space where vital mysteries for the future of humanity are concealed. Beyond galaxies lies our horizon!”

Modi also highlighted the private sector’s growing role in space, saying: “Soon, the first PSLV rocket built by our private sector will be launched. I am glad that India’s first private communication satellite is also being developed. Through public-private partnership, preparations are underway to launch an Earth Observation Satellite Constellation.”

Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh added that an Indian would announce Viksit Bharat 2047 from the surface of the moon in 2040. “India’s space programme has entered a transformative phase. It is no longer about symbolic achievements but is now a vital contributor to scientific progress, technological innovation and public welfare,” he said.

Singh outlined future milestones, including India’s first human spaceflight under the Gaganyaan mission in 2027, the Chandramitra mission in 2028, Chandrayaan-4, a Venus mission and the establishment of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035.

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla said he was excited about the country’s future endeavours, noting that international agencies were also watching closely. “Space agencies in Japan and Europe have even asked me to invite them to join future missions launched from Indian soil,” he said.