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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nNEW DELHI: In a bid to further strengthen Indo-Russian space cooperation, Isro has said it wants to partner with Russia for building the country\u2019s own space station \u2014 Bharatiya Antariksh Space Station (BAS) \u2014 by 2035.\u201cWith the rich experience of Russian colleagues, we would like to partner with them in the development of the Indian space station,\u201d said Asir Packiaraj, director of Isro Propulsion Complex, who was representing the space agency at the Russian Space Forum in Moscow. \u201cFor preparation of BAS, we are looking for good cooperation with Russia…to have common sub-systems for control, powering, communication, tracking,\u201d he said.With the International Space Station, operated by space agencies of the US, Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada, expected to be decommissioned by 2030-31, and China having the only other crewed space station, Indian and Russian space experts discussed the post-ISS future and opportunities for cooperation at the forum, which was organised on April 9.Currently, both India and Russia are working on their plans to build their respective space stations that can serve as space labs. Packiaraj said India\u2019s proposed station will be placed 450 km above Earth, at an inclination of 51.6 degrees, which is the same inclination of the proposed Russian station \u2014 Russian Orbital Station (ROS). He said India is also exploring partnerships with other space agencies.Russia can assist India in building BAS by providing critical technologies, including expertise in orbital modules, life support systems (ECLSS), and docking assemblies, utilising Russia\u2019s extensive experience from the first space station \u2018Mir\u2019 (1986-2001) and also from ISS, where Russia has a designated segment called \u2018Russian Orbital Segment\u2019. Russia can also provide training to Indian astronauts in long-term station habitation, spacewalks and maintenance.From sending India\u2019s Wing Cdr Rakesh Sharma to space to providing cryogenic engines to India by defying US sanctions in early 1990s to training four Gaganauts for the Gaganyaan programme during the Covid period, the old Indo-Russian space bond has withstood the test of time. Also, the Soviet Union (now Russia) played a critical role in launching India\u2019s first satellite, Aryabhata, on April 19, 1975. While designed and built entirely by Isro, the satellite was launched from Kapustin Yar in the Soviet Union.Indo-Russian space cooperation is the cornerstone of the two sides\u2019 \u201cspecial and privileged strategic partnership\u201d, spanning over six decades and providing the foundation for India’s space programme, dating back to the early 1960s.<\/div>\n\n