INDIA, Oct 19, (Agencies): Following its successful robotic moon landing, India has set ambitious space goals for the future. The Indian government plans to send an astronaut to the moon by 2040 and establish an Earth-orbiting space station by 2035. These goals were directed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting with the Indian government department overseeing the nation's space program.

India's moon exploration efforts will include multiple robotic Chandrayaan missions, the development of a new launch pad, and a heavy-lift launch vehicle. The Gaganyaan human spaceflight program, aimed at sending three astronauts into low Earth orbit in 2025, will involve 20 significant tests, including uncrewed missions to test the launch vehicle. The program will soon conduct a high-altitude abort test to validate the crew escape system.

By the mid-2030s, India aspires to have a 20-ton space station in a fixed orbit approximately 248 miles above Earth. The station will be capable of hosting astronauts for 15 to 20 days at a time. ISRO also plans a Venus orbiter mission called Shukrayaan-1 and a second orbiter mission to Mars, known as Mars Orbiter Mission 2 (MOM 2). MOM 2 may include cameras to study Mars' crust and potentially a lander.

These ambitious space goals align with India's desire to be at the forefront of space exploration. The United States and China also have lunar exploration plans, aiming to send astronauts to the moon in the coming years.