Sydney is playing host to India’s remarkable journey in space at the 76th International Aeronautical Congress (IAC 2025), with the Indian Pavilion highlighting six decades of achievements from Chandrayaan to Aditya L1.
The event, held from 29 September to 3 October, has attracted global space leaders, researchers, and industry representatives.
V. Narayanan, Chairman of ISRO, spoke about India’s ambitious vision for the coming decades:
“One of India’s space programme targets is to land on the Moon by 2040.”
Narayanan added that there “was a time only the government was doing the job. Now we are running the entire thing.”
Pawan Goenka of IN-SPACe emphasised the rapid growth of India’s private space sector:
“In just 3–4 years, over 300 companies have entered India’s private space sector and many are doing incredible work.”
Projects such as Gaganyaan and India’s planned Space Station illustrate the country’s commitment to pushing the frontiers of space with dedication and innovation.
The Indian High Commissioner to Australia, Gopal Baglay, also visited the ISRO/In-SPACe Pavilion on 30 September, exploring India’s rich space legacy and its vibrant ecosystem of public and private partnerships.
Australia and India have strengthened their collaboration in space research through a series of strategic initiatives, agreements, and joint projects. Several Indian private sector space companies involving many young entrepreneurs and startups have showcased their achievements in Sydney that push ahead India’s space exploration & collaboration with Australian partners.
The Australian Space Agency (ASA) and ISRO have formalised support for India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, including search and rescue operations in Australian waters. Under the International Space Investment (ISI) India program, the Australian government has invested $18 million in three collaborative space projects, while the Space MAITRI initiative focuses on developing a small satellite launch vehicle for joint missions.
Beyond launch programs, the two nations have signed MoUs to deepen cooperation in satellite communications, space technology, and undersea surveillance research, reflecting a commitment to scientific advancement, regional security, and the growth of their private and public space sectors. These collaborations highlight a shared vision of expanding technological frontiers while fostering international partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.
Hosted by the Space Industry Association of Australia and co-hosted by the Australian Space Agency and NSW Government, IAC 2025 marks the third time Australia has welcomed the prestigious congress, following Melbourne in 1998 and Adelaide in 2017.
The event aims to advance space capabilities across the Indo-Pacific, highlighting applications in emergency services, health, telecommunications, agriculture, and smart cities while fostering collaboration with First Nations communities.
IAC 2025 in Sydney underscores not only India’s soaring ambitions but also Australia’s growing role in shaping the future of the global space industry.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
