Ahmedabad: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing for a major milestone in India’s human spaceflight programme, with its chairman Dr V Narayanan saying the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission is expected to launch within the next four months.
The announcement came during the Third National Space Day celebrations in Ahmedabad, where Dr Narayanan outlined an ambitious roadmap for India’s space programme.
Gaganyaan enters final phase
Dr Narayanan said around 8,000 tests related to the Gaganyaan programme have been successfully completed and the mission is now in its final phase.
ISRO plans to conduct three uncrewed missions before attempting the crewed flight. The first uncrewed mission will simulate a human spaceflight without astronauts aboard, allowing engineers to assess the launch vehicle, spacecraft systems and safety mechanisms before humans are placed at risk.
Gaganyaan is considered one of ISRO’s most complex programmes. It requires the development and testing of a human-rated launch vehicle, crew module, life-support systems and technologies capable of safely returning astronauts to Earth.
ISRO sets ambitious mission targets
Dr Narayanan also outlined wider plans for the current financial year. ISRO aims to realise 12 satellites and undertake eight launch vehicle missions, reflecting an increased focus on expanding India’s space capabilities.
The chairman highlighted how India’s space programme has evolved from its early days, when components were transported using bicycles and bullock carts, into a major national programme with ambitions extending to the Moon, Venus and beyond.
The Gaganyaan programme is expected to be a defining chapter in that journey. A successful uncrewed mission would provide crucial operational experience and pave the way for the eventual crewed mission, bringing India closer to independently sending its astronauts into orbit.