Under the leadership of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), India’s human spaceflight program is advancing quickly. The Gaganyaan mission is scheduled to launch the nation’s first crewed spaceflight by early 2027.
Several significant technological milestones have been reached, according to a thorough update given to the Rajya Sabha by Union Minister of State for Science & Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh.
The Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) engineering model is realized, the Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3) has finished development and ground testing, and the propulsion systems for the Crew and Service Modules have been created and tested.
Additionally, five distinct motor types have been subjected to static testing for the Crew Escape System (CES). The construction of the Orbital Module Preparation Facility, the Gaganyaan Control Center, crew training facilities, and launch pad modifications are only a few examples of the ongoing infrastructure improvements.
Along with the successful flight test of a test vehicle and the ongoing preparations for future tests, the program has also made strides in precursor missions intended to validate key systems. A variety of terrestrial linkages and IDRSS-1 feeder stations support the completed ground-based flight operations and communication networks.
To ensure a safe mission completion, crew recovery actions have been planned and specialized assets are available. Launch is scheduled before the crewed flight, and the first uncrewed mission, G1, is already in active preparation with phase-1 tests of the Crew Module and Service Module structures finished.
Beyond Gaganyaan, India plans to build the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS), a space station made up of five modules. The first module is expected to launch in June 2028, and the station is expected to be operational by 2035.
Additionally, ISRO has set a lofty target to send Indian humans to the moon by 2040. The agency is now developing the orbital systems and launch vehicle architecture for the lunar mission.
This extensive roadmap represents a major step towards establishing a long-term presence in space and demonstrates India’s growing capabilities in human spaceflight and exploration.
