The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday unveiled a model of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) while celebrating two-day National Space Day festivities at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
India plans to launch the first BAS module into space by 2028, joining the elite group of countries with the capability to run a dedicated space station.
Today, there are just two working orbital laboratories in the world — the International Space Station (ISS), which is operated by five space agencies in collaboration, and China's Tiangong station.
Part of its long-term objective, ISRO plans to upgrade BAS to a five-module station by 2035, pushing its aspirations in the international space economy. The first phase, BAS-01, will have a mass of about 10 tonnes and will be at an altitude of 450 km in low-Earth orbit.
Features of BAS
- Indigenous BAS has integrated various state-of-the-art systems, such as:
- Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS)
- Bharat Docking System and Bharat Berthing Mechanism
- Automated hatches and modular avionics
- Microgravity research and technology demonstration platforms
- Scientific observation windows and crew recreation windows
Additionally, the station will have propulsion and life-support fluid refueling, radiation and thermal protection, Micro Meteoroid Orbital Debris (MMOD) protection, airlocks and space suits to support extra-vehicular activity.
The BAS is conceptualized as a world-class research center, facilitating research in medicine, life science, space technology, and interplanetary exploration. It will allow researchers to study the effect of microgravity on the human body and validate technologies essential for long-term human presence in space.
Apart from scientific explorations, the station is also likely to lay the foundation for space tourism, India's foray into the commercial space sector. The space station will also further global cooperation, be an international research platform, and motivate the coming generations for science and space-related careers.
During the event, the impressive 3.8-meter by 8-meter model of BAS-01 was the centerpiece, generating great interest from guests and astronomy enthusiasts alike.
