India has set its sights on an ambitious new milestone in space exploration: landing its own astronauts on the lunar surface. The nation is working towards achieving this historic feat by the year 2040, as revealed by a former head of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Former ISRO Chief Unveils Lunar Ambition
This significant announcement was made by A S Kiran Kumar, the former chairman of ISRO. He shared these details with the media on January 7, 2026, during an event held at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) campus. Speaking on the sidelines, Kumar elaborated on the country's comprehensive and forward-looking space roadmap, which now formally includes a crewed lunar landing.
The revelation marks a major expansion of India's space ambitions, building upon the success of the Chandrayaan missions. It signals a clear intent to transition from robotic exploration to human spaceflight beyond Earth's orbit.
The Roadmap to 2040: A Phased Approach
While specific technical details of the crewed Moon mission are still under development, the 2040 target provides a clear timeline for the nation's scientific and engineering communities. This goal is expected to be achieved through a series of incremental and critical steps.
The immediate focus remains on the Gaganyaan program, India's first human spaceflight mission, which aims to send astronauts into Earth's orbit. The success of Gaganyaan is considered a fundamental and non-negotiable prerequisite for any deep-space human mission. Following this, ISRO will likely need to develop and master several new technologies, including:
- Heavier-lift launch vehicles capable of carrying crew modules and landing systems to the Moon.
- Advanced life support systems for long-duration space travel.
- Precision lunar landing and ascent capabilities.
- Spacesuits designed for extravehicular activity (EVA) on the Moon's surface.
This phased approach ensures that each milestone builds a solid foundation for the next, mitigating risk and maximizing learning.
Implications for India's Space Ecosystem
The announcement of a 2040 crewed lunar goal has profound implications. It provides a long-term, unifying objective for India's space sector, driving innovation across government agencies, private aerospace companies, and academic institutions. Such a mission will catalyze advancements in materials science, robotics, telecommunications, and human physiology.
Furthermore, it positions India among a very select group of nations capable of human space exploration. Achieving this goal would be a powerful testament to the country's technological prowess and serve as an immense source of national pride and global soft power. It also opens up potential avenues for international collaboration in deep-space exploration.
The 2040 target, set forth by former ISRO chief A S Kiran Kumar, is more than a date; it is a declaration of India's intent to become a leading spacefaring nation. The journey from Earth orbit to the Moon is colossal, but with the Gaganyaan program as its cornerstone, India has begun charting its course for this next giant leap.
