India’s bold strides in space reflect its emergence as a true global space power — achieving what others have at a fraction of the cost. With the Gaganyaan mission set to launch astronauts in 2027, and Shubhanshu Shukla soon heading to the ISS, India is proving that ambition, talent, and ingenuity — not massive budgets — are what truly propel a nation into the future of space exploration.
India’s space ambitions are impressive, but cracks are showing beneath the surface. With ISRO’s budget a fraction of NASA’s and a workforce dwarfed by global peers, complex missions like Gaganyaan face real risks of delay and overreach. Private sector involvement remains limited, hampered by regulatory and financial barriers. Without deeper investment and structural reform, India may struggle to stay competitive in the evolving global space race.
There is a 50% chance that SpaceX's Starship will carry a human to orbit by July 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.