Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS): India's Space Station by 2035 | Exam Notes

Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS): Quick Exam Notes

Let's be real, Space Tech current affairs can get overwhelming. But if you are appearing for UPSC, State PCS, or SSC exams anytime soon, you simply cannot afford to ignore the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS).

Instead of reading 10-page documents, let's break down exactly what you need to memorize for your MCQs and Mains answers. No fluff, just the facts.

So, what exactly is BAS?

Basically, India is building its own "house" in space. The BAS is an upcoming space station—a floating lab in orbit—where our astronauts will live and do scientific research. ISRO has set a hard deadline to complete this massive project by 2035.

The Hard Facts (Don't skip these)

Examiners will try to trap you with tricky options in the Prelims. Memorize these specific numbers:

• Where will it be? In a Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). Specifically at a height of 400 to 450 km.
• Total Weight: It's going to be heavy. The final station will weigh 52 tonnes.
• How is it built? It won't be a single piece. ISRO will assemble five separate modules in space.
• Crew Size: It can hold 3 to 4 astronauts at a time.
• Stay Duration: Astronauts will live there for about 3 to 6 months per mission.

Phase 1: Enter 'BAS-01'

You can't build a 52-tonne station overnight. That's why the government recently approved the very first module, named BAS-01. This is essentially the first building block.

• The Budget: Keep ₹1,763 crore in mind. This money will be utilized between 2025 and 2028.
• Key Player: The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) is taking the lead here, calling on Indian private industries to help manufacture the physical parts.
• Approval Date: The final structural design was green-lit on 3 December 2025 by the National Level Review Committee.

How is this linked to Gaganyaan?

Think of Gaganyaan as the practice run. Gaganyaan is our human spaceflight program—just sending people up and bringing them back.

BAS is the next step. Once we prove we can safely send humans to space via the 8 planned Gaganyaan missions (both uncrewed and crewed), we will start sending the BAS modules up there to assemble the station.