PM urges global cooperation in space, cites ISRO’s role for humanity
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday exhorted the world community to choose cooperation over confrontation, sustainability over short-term gain and inclusion over exclusion. This key message came a day ahead of the two-day high-profile BRICS summit starting here on Saturday.
Backing his appeal, he cited the example of India’s space programme and said the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) technologies and partnerships serve not only India, but the wider world. He also stressed that India’s approach is rooted in ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ -- ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, and this spirit must now travel beyond the planet.
Making these assertions while addressing the first International Space Summit in Paris, he underlined the growing complexity of the cosmic environment and emphasised that orbits are becoming more crowded, technologies more powerful, and actors more numerous. He stressed that global partnerships must prioritize long-term sustainability over short-term gains.
He also underlined that India supports a safe, secure, and sustainable space domain anchored in international law, underlining that scientific data must serve the common good with openness and integrity. Virtually addressing the Space Summit, the Prime Minister said that the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) technologies and partnerships serve not only India, but the wider world.
He said for centuries, space inspired people’s imagination and now, it shapes life on earth, from climate and crops to oceans and communities.
“We support a safe, secure, peaceful and sustainable space domain anchored in international law, dialogue and multilateral cooperation. Scientific data must serve the common good, with openness and integrity,” he said. The prime minister said India’s space journey reflects this philosophy and the ISRO, which stands at the heart of this journey, has earned global admiration for its excellence and cost-effective missions. He said its capabilities serve farmers and fishermen, weather forecasting, disaster management and navigation. “More than 430 satellites from 34 countries have travelled to space aboard Indian rockets. ISRO’s technologies and partnerships serve not only India, but the wider world,” he said.
Modi said behind this global trust is the dedication and hard work of generations of Indian scientists, engineers and technicians.
“Working day and night, they have built ISRO’s global reputation mission by mission, success by success, and given India a place of pride among spacefaring nations,” he said.
The prime minister said the Chandrayaan-3 made India the first nation to land near the lunar south pole and Aditya-L1 is unlocking the secrets of the Sun. He added that last year, an Indian astronaut visited the International Space Station.
“Looking ahead, we aim to establish an Indian space station by 2035 and send an Indian to the Moon by 2040. In all these efforts, our guiding principle has been clear: their benefits must reach all humanity,” he said.
Alongside ISRO, Modi said, India’s private space sector is also surging in a big way and the energy of enterprise is joining the excellence of ISRO.
“France has been a trusted partner since the Indian space programme began at Thumba in the 1960s. Today, our cooperation spans earth observation and advanced technologies, uniting scientific excellence with human purpose. We invite France and the world to be co-travellers in India’s next space frontier,” he said. The prime minister thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for inviting him to the summit. “Let the space summit in Paris send a clear message: we will explore together, innovate together and protect space together, for all humanity, and for generations to come. I convey my best wishes to all the participants,” he said.
