On 18 September 2024, the Union Cabinet approved the expansion of India’s Gaganyaan program. This includes developing the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS-1) and new technologies for space missions.
The expanded program now aims to complete eight missions by December 2028, with the launch of BAS-1 as a key goal. The Gaganyaan program, initially approved in 2018, aims for human spaceflight to Low Earth Orbit and long-term space exploration. It plans to establish BAS by 2035 and a crewed lunar mission by 2040.
The program will collaborate with industry and academia, with a total budget of ₹20,193 crore, emphasizing technological growth and job creation in space exploration.