A. S. Kiran Kumar, Space Scientist and Former Chairman, ISRO presented his perspectives at FICCI’s Bharat Space Conclave 2025 about India's space future using indigenous innovations and international partnerships along with private sector involvement. Following are the key highlights from his address.
The Indian space program developed under leadership of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and Dr. Homi Bhabha while India faced primary issues of food, shelter and education. India used disruptive space exploration technology during adversities to develop its economy rather than establish military dominance. The strategic implementation of space exploration has elevated India among the leading five nations involved in space exploration today. Through its visionary leadership, India has grown from making sounding rockets with fishermen’s assistance to steering billion-dollar multinational partnerships.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) started its operation through modest initial developments. During the 1960s, Dr. Sarabhai gained worldwide backing from the US and Russia as well as France and Germany to obtain sounding rockets assembled at Thumba near Trivandrum. The project demanded scientific experiments on the land which required obtaining permission from local fishermen by promising national benefits in the future. These initial efforts received backing from the local church to establish the foundation that later drove ISRO toward its successes.
The fishing community of India received vital support from space technology applications. Due to its 11,100-kilometer coastline and millions of fishermen depending on sea resources for survival, satellite technology successfully located the best fishing locations. The new fishing operation method reduced annual fuel expenses by ₹10,000-₹15,000 crores while increasing operational speed and efficiency. A basic battery-powered boat device used by fishermen operated through mobile phones to display optimal fishing locations while broadcasting weather alerts in their language.
ISRO established the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) in 1975 by using a US satellite to deliver educational programming to 2400 villages. Space technology proved itself as the best method for reaching distant locations for weather observation and telecommunication purposes. Without this satellite-based communication, Indian authorities would have required impractical and costly thousands of microwave towers.
India encountered major obstacles in its effort for domestic technological development because international sanctions denied India access to cryogenic technology. ISRO engineers created their own cryogenic engine which became critical for the Gaganyaan mission because it will send humans into space. ISRO demonstrates its characteristic approach through its ability to implement existing technologies for instant problem solutions while establishing domestic capabilities over time.
The discovery of water molecules on the Moon through Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 became a major scientific breakthrough that NASA along with other space organizations had not achieved. The discovery of lunar water molecules led to international cooperation that enabled NASA and ISRO to develop the upcoming NISAR satellite which will deliver millimeter-level surface deformation data. ISRO demonstrated its innovative capabilities through Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission) in 2014 when it became the first spacecraft to achieve Martian orbit while requiring a fraction of the budget needed for comparable missions executed by other nations.
The Government of India created IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center) because it understood that private sector involvement would speed up innovation. Through this initiative, ISRO provides its infrastructure and resources to private companies similar to how SpaceX operates in the United States. Indian startups use their resources to create satellite technologies as well as space tourism ventures and asteroid mining solutions that strengthen the global space economy.
Dr. Sarabhai's approach to fixing problems instead of concentrating on technology achievements keeps its value in contemporary society. Through his well-known ad, he sought to invite only new thinkers who lacked outdated knowledge. Through this approach, India has accomplished its space exploration missions successfully including lunar exploration and interplanetary missions.
The upcoming Gaganyaan mission of India represents the nation's attempt to launch human spaceflight operations thus becoming the fourth nation worldwide to conduct this type of mission. The successful completion of this mission will establish India as a prominent space power while creating new opportunities for advanced studies in space habitation and exploration. ISRO strengthens its international space influence through its NISAR project collaboration with NASA along with various joint ventures with global space agencies.
Space technology now fulfills strategic military objectives which include surveillance capabilities together with disaster response systems and secure communication networks. India can achieve global space economic dominance through its homegrown capabilities while supporting private sector development.
The scientific achievements of ISRO in geostationary orbit research, lunar missions and Mars exploration earned international acclaim which will enable deep-space exploration in the future. Indian space exploration is expanding through updated satellite technology, human spaceflight programs and strategic partnerships, which will establish India as a key space exploration power.
India plans to achieve space power status by 2047 while government initiatives must work hand in hand with private sector innovation to succeed. The advancement of modern propulsion systems together with satellite constellations and deep-space missions will boost India's global position while generating technology benefits for the entire society.
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