Overview

• On National Space Day, ISRO outlined Bharatiya Antriksh Station timelines, with a first module planned by 2028 and full operation by 2035, and a lunar sample‑return mission targeted for 2040.
• ISRO chairman V. Narayanan said the first uncrewed Gaganyaan flight (G1) is expected near December and will fly the half‑humanoid Vyommitra to validate systems.
• Narayanan disclosed that ISRO’s insistence on deeper checks led SpaceX to scrub an Axiom‑4 launch attempt, after which engineers found a dangerous crack in a Falcon‑9 fuel line.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded Shubhanshu Shukla’s ISS mission, announced plans to build a national astronaut pool, and highlighted progress in docking capability and advanced propulsion.
• Shukla said seven India‑sponsored experiments were completed on the ISS and that data analysis is underway, with results expected in the coming months to inform Gaganyaan operations.