CHANDIGARH, August 5 — Landing on the moon is no longer a distant dream for India, and by 2047, the country envisions a permanent human presence in space, a Bharatiya Antariksh Station in orbit, and a series of indigenous missions to the moon, Mars, and beyond, said Dr S Somanath, former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), during a lecture at Panjab University (PU) on Monday.
Delivering a keynote talk titled “Space Sector in India: Opportunities for Business and Startups” as part of the PU Colloquium Series, Dr Somanath emphasised India’s transformation from a government-dominated space program to a dynamic stakeholder-driven ecosystem, now fueling innovation across private satellite manufacturing, small launch vehicle development, and data services.
“India is not just following global trends—we’re shaping them,” he said. “With reusable launchers, electric propulsion, and quantum-secure space communication, we are positioning ourselves at the cutting edge of space technology.”
Dr Somanath, currently serving as Vikram Sarabhai Distinguished Professor and President-elect of the Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI), spoke extensively on how the 2023 Indian Space Policy has catalysed this shift, opening up the sector to foreign direct investment (FDI) and supporting non-governmental space entities. He noted that this policy is expected to generate socio-economic dividends, drive job creation, and strengthen India’s presence in the global space market.
Universities urged to lead innovation
Calling on universities to play a more active role, Dr Somanath said academia must work hand-in-hand with industry to build a self-sustaining space research and industrial ecosystem.
“The future of India’s space journey hinges on the integration of research, entrepreneurship, and engineering talent emerging from institutions like PU,” he noted.
PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Renu Vig presided over the event, which drew an enthusiastic crowd of students, faculty, and professionals. Among those present were Prof Yojna Rawat (Dean University Instructions), Registrar Prof YP Verma, and Prof Meenakshi Goyal (Director, R&D Cell).
Space tech for agriculture and disaster response
In a compelling section of his talk, Dr Somanath highlighted the real-world applications of space technology in solving ground-level problems, especially in agriculture and disaster management.
He detailed how ISRO’s remote sensing capabilities are being integrated into farmer-centric schemes, with tools such as:
• Krishi Decision Support System (Krishi-DSS)
• SASYA automated crop classification using RISAT-1A data
• Agrometeorological products from INSAT-3DR
“These technologies are transforming how we approach crop insurance, yield estimation, and smart irrigation planning,” he said, adding that integration with schemes like PMFBY (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana) is ensuring timely and accurate claim settlements for lakhs of farmers.
He also spoke about Bhuvan, ISRO’s geo-platform providing web-based geospatial services for agriculture, forestry, disaster response, and governance, benefiting regions including Punjab and Haryana.
“Satellite data is now central to cyclone prediction, forest fire alerts, and real-time disaster monitoring, equipping states with timely insights for better preparedness,” he added.
Future roadmap: Mars, Venus, and the Antariksh Station
Looking ahead, Dr Somanath said India is planning ambitious Mars and Venus missions, and aims to operationalise the Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035. These efforts, he stressed, will not only boost India’s scientific stature but also create vast new business and research opportunities.
“This is a moment of opportunity. India’s space future will be shaped not just by ISRO, but by startups, universities, and private innovators who will define the next era of exploration,” Dr Somanath concluded.
