India is on the cusp of achieving major space milestones, with 90 percent of its inaugural human spaceflight mission already completed. Dr. K. Sivan, former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), confirmed this significant progress in a recent press conference. The Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts into space, is slated for launch by 2027. Before this historic manned flight, ISRO plans to conduct three uncrewed test missions. These tests are crucial to ensure the system is fully human-rated and to demonstrate India’s capability in this complex endeavor, marking a significant step in the nation’s burgeoning space ambitions.
India’s Gaganyaan Mission Set to Join Elite Human Spaceflight Club
ISRO Chairman S. Somanath emphasized to DD News that the Gaganyaan mission represents one of the most intricate undertakings in India’s space history. As reported, this mission will showcase India’s capability to deploy humans into low Earth orbit using entirely indigenous launch technology. The upcoming uncrewed flights are designed to rigorously test and validate all life-support and re-entry systems before any astronauts embark on their journey.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Gaganyaan program last year, highlighting its goal to foster India’s self-reliance in advanced space technology and human-rated systems. Scientists involved in the mission have stated that its success would place India among an exclusive group of four nations—alongside the United States, Russia, and China—that have successfully conducted manned space missions.
Currently, astronaut training is underway in Bengaluru. Crew members are undergoing advanced simulations and familiarizing themselves with a mission capsule equipped with comprehensive safety features for various emergency scenarios.
Test flights in India over the next two years will not only underscore the nation’s engineering prowess but also inspire a new era of human space exploration, meticulously preparing India’s astronauts for their pioneering voyage.
This video provides a visual overview of ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission and its ambitious goals for India’s future in space.