New Delhi: In a written response to a question posed at the Lok Sabha, the Indian Minister of State for Space, Jitendra Singh revealed that ISRO is incorporating
international standards in the design of BAS-01 subsystems, ensuring interoperability with hardware developed by other space agencies. ISRO is also exploring potential areas for collaboration with international partners, including the joint development of technologies for the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme, Gaganyaan and support for utilising niche test facilities. The director of the Space Applications Centre (SAC) Nilesh Desai had previously revealed that the docking ports on BAS were designed for international interoperability.
The BAS configuration. (Image Credit: NASA/SpaceX/Boeing/Roscosmos/Bigelow Aerospace/ISRO/News9).
The Gaganyaan Programme was expanded to include the deployment of the first module of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, which ISRO aiming to achieve by 2028, with the assembly of the entire orbital complex by 2035. This budget covers precursor missions as well. ISRO is planning to deploy a total of five modules, with the Core Module, a Science Module, a Lab Module, and a Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) module with multiple docking ports. Crew transport ships and cargo shuttles from other countries can potentially dock with the CBM module, resupplying the orbital complex, ferry spacefarers from other nations, or even tourists. ISRO is also planning a robotic arm, along with potential free flying elements and inflatable habitats.
International Collaborations on the cards
In his written response Singh noted, “Gaganyaan, first crewed demonstration mission will enable demonstration of capabilities for safe human transportation to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and return back to Earth. Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) is the next logical step in sustained Indian Human Space Programme. It will open up further avenues in space exploration, which will lead to utilisation of the unique microgravity environments in LEO for advanced scientific research and technology development activities as well as support further Indian human exploration missions (i.e.) Indian landing on Moon as envisioned in India’s Space Vision 2047.” On the sidelines of the GLEX summit in February 2025, ISRO signed an agreement with ESA to explore collaboration options for the BAS.
