The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) unveiled a scale model of its Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) module on Friday during National Space Day festivities in New Delhi. The unveiling represents an important milestone in India's ambitious space program, with the first BAS module to be launched by 2028. India, upon becoming operational, will join the select club of countries running space stations, along with the US-operated International Space Station (ISS) and China's Tiangong. ISRO aims to build five BAS modules in orbit by 2035, solidifying India's status as a global space power.
The BAS-01 module will have a weight of about 10 tonnes and orbit in a low Earth orbit of 450 km. It features advanced technology in the form of an indigenously designed Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS), Bharat Docking System, Bharat Berthing Mechanism, and automated hatch system. The module will be used as a platform for microgravity research, technology demonstration, and crew leisure activities, with viewports for scientific observation. Also, there will be provisions for refilling ECLSS and propulsion fluids, radiation protection, and thermal protection, and MMOD shielding in BAS. Air suits and airlocks will facilitate extra-vehicular activities, while integrated plug-and-play avionics optimize operational effectiveness.
The Bharatiya Antariksh Station is bound to be a center of scientific discovery, supporting research in human health in microgravity, space medicine, life sciences, and interplanetary technology. In addition to research, BAS is bound to contribute towards India's entry into the commercial space domain, including space travel. The project will also enhance international cooperation, providing a platform for joint scientific endeavours and inspiring future generations of space scientists and engineers.
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National Space Day, marked on August 23, marks India's Chandrayaan-3 landing on the south pole of the Moon in 2023. The two-day festivities at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi included exhibitions, lectures, and demonstrations, showcasing ISRO's increasing success stories, such as the Gaganyaan mission and the future BAS. The 3.8-meter by 8-meter model of BAS-01 was a major attraction, representing India's ascending ambitions in the international space scene.
