Gaganyaan mission slated for first quarter of 2027: ISRO chief Narayanan

ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan addresses a press convention on updates on the Gaganyaan Programme, on the Nationwide Media Centre in New Delhi on Might 6, 2025.
| Picture Credit score: ANI

The launch of India’s maiden human house flight — Gaganyaan — has been pushed to the primary quarter of 2027, almost 5 years later than the unique schedule because it races to ace applied sciences for such advanced initiatives.

The primary uncrewed mission of the Gaganyaan venture is anticipated to be launched later this 12 months, which shall be adopted by two extra comparable missions in 2026, Indian Area Analysis Organisation (ISRO) Chairman V. Narayanan stated at a press convention.

“The primary crewed mission is focused for the primary quarter of 2027,” Mr. Narayanan stated and added ISRO would ship a half-humanoid robotic — Vyommitra — as a part of the uncrewed mission earlier than sending astronauts to low-Earth orbit.

Additionally Learn | ISRO dispatches crew module for first uncrewed mission of Gaganyaan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the Gaganyaan venture throughout his Independence Day deal with in 2018 and set a goal of 2022 for attaining India’s maiden human house flight.

The venture has run into a number of delays, partly because of the COVID-19 pandemic that affected the coaching of astronauts, and complexities of mastering the essential applied sciences required for the mission.

The crewed mission was anticipated to happen in 2025 and later slotted for 2026. It has now been delayed to the primary quarter of 2027.

Additionally Learn | Parachutes for uncrewed spaceflight of Gaganyaan mission flagged off

Apart from growing the human-rated launch automobile for the Gaganyan mission, ISRO scientists have additionally constructed from scratch the Atmosphere Management and Life Assist System (ECLSS) for the mission, which can contain taking the astronauts to low-Earth orbit of 400km above the Earth for a couple of days and getting them again safely.

The ECLSS will assist preserve cabin stress, humidity, temperature, high quality of air and private hygiene administration system within the spacecraft throughout the period of the mission.

“It’s a very advanced course of. For the primary time we undertook this growth. I need to say, 90 per cent of the work is accomplished and we’re within the ultimate section of qualification,” Mr. Narayanan stated.

EXPLAINED | What is going to Gaganyaan change for India?

If profitable, India will change into solely the fourth nation after Russia, the U.S. and China to independently launch people into house.

Mr. Narayanan stated house docking experiments comprising two satellites launched by a PSLV rocket in December have been profitable and ISRO was planning SPADEX-2.

A proposal on this shall be offered to the federal government quickly, he stated.

Additionally Learn | ISRO will take all precautions earlier than manned Gaganyaan mission: Somanath

He stated even handed use of gas throughout the ongoing SPADEX mission allowed ISRO to conduct extra experiments in orbit that included circumnavigating one satellite tv for pc across the different in March.

Scientists additionally demonstrated open and closed loop circumnavigation experiments which might be thought-about as foundational applied sciences for in-orbit servicing of satellites for extension of mission life.

Mr. Narayanan stated ISRO was internet hosting, together with the Worldwide Astronautical Federation, the International Area Exploration Convention (GLEX 2025) from Might 7-9, positioning India as a associate in house exploration.