BENGALURU: India took a formal step towards building its own space station, with Isro inviting Indian industry to develop the first module of the proposed Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS). Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, under the Department of Space, issued an expression of interest (EoI) seeking qualified Indian aerospace manufacturers to build two sets of the BAS-01 structure, the first module planned for India’s future space station in low Earth orbit. TOI accessed the EoI issued on Jan 8.
Bidders must be Indian entities with at least five years of experience in aerospace manufacturing, a minimum annual average turnover of Rs 50 crore over last three financial years, relevant quality certifications, and no record of blacklisting. Isro described BAS as the next major milestone in India’s human spaceflight programme, aimed at ensuring a sustained human presence in space, following Gaganyaan missions. The BAS-01 module is expected to be the first operational element of the station. BAS-01 is scheduled for deployment by 2028 and is the first step towards developing five modules by 2035 to complete the full station. According to initial plans that TOI accessed in 2019, BAS, a 20-tonne modular abode, was to have space for three astronauts.
Isro is yet to commit to the final design. Union minister Jitendra Singh confirmed that Rs 720 crore was allocated for development of the first module, and procurement activities for long lead items have begun. Isro is targeting several advanced technologies through this mission, including autonomous rendezvous and docking, robotics, in-orbit refuelling, dedicated crew quarters, intra-vehicular activity suits (worn inside spacecraft), and modular racks for conducting microgravity experiments. According to the EoI document, the industry partner will be responsible for complete development and realisation of BAS-01 structure, including fabrication, welding, assembly, inspection, and proof pressure testing.
