India’s space economy has the potential to reach 100 billion dollars by the year 2040, which currently stands at around eight billion dollars. Union Minister of State in the Department of Space Dr Jitendra Singh stated this in an interview with a private news channel in New Delhi. The Minister stated that ISRO has launched more than 380 foreign satellites, earning more than 250 Million Euros and more than 170 Million Dollars by launching American satellites.
He also informed that Gaganyaan will have its first trial flight by the first or second week of October this year following the launch of first Sun Mission Aditya-L1 on Saturday. He further added that in the second trial, likely beginning of the next year, a female robot named Vyommitra will be onboard the Gaganyaan before the first human mission which may include up to three astronauts. During the conversation, the Minister also denied India’s competition with any other nation in Space exploration. He reiterated that India’s Space Research and Atomic Energy programmes are entirely peaceful and that the ISRO is collaborating with leading Space agencies and has put into orbit several satellites of private foreign entities and educational institutions.
