New Delhi. If everything goes well, India will establish a space station by 2035. And by 2040, it will create history by landing humans on the moon. These words were said by Union Minister of State for Science and Technology (Independent Charge) Dr. Jitendra Singh on Sunday.

The Minister of State said that the announcements made in the Union Budget 2024-25 related to the space sector have been made keeping the future in mind. He spoke of an ambitious plan to send an Indian astronaut into space by the second half of 2025 and land the first Indian on the Moon by 2040.

Space economy will grow fivefold in 10 years

"In 2023, we saw an investment of Rs 1,000 crore. It is estimated that the space economy will grow fivefold or to about $44 billion in the next 10 years," he said, adding that Indian scientists working with foreign space agencies is expected to prevent talent from going abroad.

Gaganyaan was delayed due to Corona

He said that Gaganyaan will fly to space next year because India's first human spacecraft mission got delayed due to Corona. Along with this, India is also aiming to send robot flights. A female robot, Vayumitra, will be sent to space in the year 2025. This robot will do all the activities of an astronaut and return to earth.

Digital space startups get a boost in India

Referring to the new Space Policy 2023, Minister Jitendra Singh said that the new policy has promoted digital space startups in India. Singh said that the new policy has opened the doors for the private sector to participate in ISRO's activities.

The minister said that while strengthening the infrastructure of ISRO, they have also set up a private launchpad in the ISRO campus.