Built in Bharat, Admired Worldwide: India’s Cosmic Footprint Expands

Image Source: The Economic Times

India’s reputation in space science soared to new heights today, as ISRO Chairman Dr. V Narayanan highlighted the country’s extraordinary strides in space technology and the world’s admiration of these achievements during a keynote address at a CSIR-NIIST event on August 1, 2025. Dr. Narayanan’s remarks came amid new missions, international collaborations, and an expanding vision for India’s place in the cosmos, reinforcing the nation’s ascent into the elite club of spacefaring powers.

Opening the Next Frontier

India’s space sector, powered by ISRO, has evolved from its early days with the Aryabhata satellite to launching hundreds of satellites—including more than 400 for 34 other countries—at a fraction of global costs. Dr. Narayanan attributed this success to decades of scientific innovation, a focus on self-reliance in strategic technologies, and the perseverance of the nation’s scientists. He emphasized how India’s rapidly advancing capabilities continue to draw praise and partnership opportunities from space agencies worldwide, unlocking greater ambitions for the years ahead.

Key Highlights from the ISRO Chief

Dr. Narayanan underscored the international recognition India has garnered for unprecedented lunar and Martian missions. Achievements like Chandrayaan-3’s historic landing near the Moon’s south pole and the cost-effective Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) have made India the first country in Asia to reach Martian orbit on its maiden try.
He spotlighted the success of the Axiom-4 mission, where Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian astronaut to complete a mission aboard the International Space Station. This feat marks India’s leap into the next era of human spaceflight and inspires young scientists to pursue careers in science and engineering.
The chief reiterated India’s commitment to self-sufficiency in vital space technologies, urging greater collaboration with institutions such as CSIR to develop advanced materials crucial for rocket and satellite manufacturing.
Emphasis was laid on the upcoming NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite, which signifies a landmark Indo-US collaboration to provide all-weather, day-night imaging of Earth’s surface, and is poised to enhance scientific understanding of climate and environmental change.

New Milestones and India’s Expanding Space Footprint

ISRO’s expanding portfolio was detailed through the lens of recent highlights:
The recent precise launch of the NISAR satellite using India’s indigenous GSLV rocket, recognized as one of the world’s most flawless multi-stage launches.
Progress in navigation technologies with the NAVIC system, delivering robust, independent navigation across South Asia.
Ambitions under the Gaganyaan programme, India’s first indigenous human spaceflight project, now targeting a crewed launch to low-Earth orbit and a vision of establishing the Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035.

India’s Growing Global Impact

India’s space efforts are helping reshape the nation’s technological, economic, and diplomatic horizons:
By maintaining some of the world’s lowest per-kilogram satellite launch costs, ISRO continues to attract commercial satellite missions globally, with a fresh target of up to 10 percent global market share in the lucrative commercial satellite launch sector.
Recent policy reforms and a new ecosystem welcoming private sector participation have unlocked new opportunities for startups, research institutes, and international partnerships, setting the stage for further breakthroughs.

A Beacon of Inspiration

The ISRO chairman stressed the transformative power of India’s space missions in inspiring the nation’s youth and forging a scientific temperament that stretches beyond national borders. The culmination of recent missions and India’s international collaborations is not just a technological triumph, but a testament to the resolve, innovation, and collaborative spirit that define modern India’s ambitions on the global space stage.

Today, India’s journey from modest beginnings to a globally-admired space superpower is not only a marker of scientific excellence, but also a source of national pride and soft power, elevating the country in the community of nations through ingenuity and resilience.

Source: The Week Wire, The Economic Times