Modi Invites France and World to Join India's Next Space Frontier

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday invited France and the wider world to partner with India in its next phase of space exploration, framing the appeal around the principle of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' — the idea that the world is one family.

Addressing the International Space Summit in Paris by video, Modi said France had stood by India since the early days of its space programme at Thumba in the 1960s. Cooperation between the two countries now covers Earth observation and advanced technologies, he said, combining scientific excellence with human purpose.

The Prime Minister thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for the invitation and said the Paris gathering should convey a shared resolve to explore, innovate and protect space together for all humanity and future generations.

Highlighting India's growing role in launch services, Modi said the country has placed 430 payloads from 34 countries into orbit. He credited ISRO with earning global respect for its capabilities and cost-effective missions.

He also outlined the agency's long-term targets: an indigenous space station by 2035 and an Indian astronaut on the Moon by 2040. The guiding principle behind these efforts, he said, is that their benefits must reach all of humanity.

With orbits growing more crowded, technologies more powerful and the number of space actors rising, Modi called for global partnerships that prioritise long-term sustainability over short-term gains. He stressed the importance of transparent research and the ethical sharing of information, saying scientific data must serve the common good with openness and integrity.

The two-day summit, which opened on Wednesday, was organised by France to begin regular international discussions on the future of space exploration and the evolving space economy. More than 120 countries are taking part.