ISRO will launch the first module of the Indian space station Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) in 2028
There is discussion about the operational activity of the International Space Station, expected to end between 2030 and 2032. After that, the following stations are expected to be in orbit:
- The Russian Orbital Station (ROS)
- The Chinese Tiangong space station
- Some commercial space stations (American with international collaborations).
Another orbital space station could be the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), built by the Indian space agency ISRO.
This will be a modular space station that will allow India to have its own outpost in low Earth orbit (LEO) to develop its own technologies and high-tech industry related to the aerospace sector. Various microgravity experiments will be conducted on board, there will be openings for international collaborations, and more generally, ISRO will prepare for the leap toward the Moon.
During an online event held in recent days, attended by S. Unnikrishnan Nair (aerospace engineer closely collaborating with the Indian space agency), some information about the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) was presented within the IIRS-ISRO digital learning program.
According to reports, the plan remains to launch the first module of BAS in 2028 aboard an LVM3 rocket. Specifically, the BAS-02 module, the Core-Docking Module, will enable the docking of new Gaganyaan spacecraft developed using technologies produced in India.
Data shows that BAS-02 will measure 9.25 meters in length, with a diameter varying between 2.8 meters and 4 meters depending on the section. Compared to the Tianhe module of the CSS, it is half its length, but the CNSA has the Long March 5B rocket at its disposal, which has large fairings that can accommodate large volumes.
The BAS-01 module will be the living quarters with dimensions of 8 meters in length, a diameter of 3.8 meters, and a mass of about 10 tons.
The Bharatiya Antariksh Station will also feature the BAS-03 module, where microgravity experiments will be conducted, connected to the BAS-04 module (another section for experiments), and finally the BAS-05 module, which will be tasked with connecting the various sections.
Both the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) and the Gaganyaan spacecraft will utilize the International Docking System Standard (IDSS) for the docking system. This will enable compatible spacecraft to dock with the Indian space station and allow the Indian spacecraft to dock with other space stations. Full operational capability of BAS is currently expected in 2035, and it will orbit at an altitude between 400 km and 450 km, similar to that of the ISS.