Gaganyaan First Uncrewed Mission Likely In 4 Months, ISRO Chief Says

India’s space programme is heading into a crucial phase, with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) planning eight launch vehicle missions and 12 satellite missions during the current financial year. Among the most closely watched missions is the first uncrewed flight under the Gaganyaan programme, which ISRO expects to undertake within the next four months.

ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan, speaking at the Third National Space Day celebrations in Ahmedabad, said the Gaganyaan programme had completed about 8,000 tests and was now approaching its final stage.

“We are in the final leg,” Narayanan said.

He said three uncrewed missions would be conducted before the crewed Gaganyaan mission. The uncrewed flights are intended to test the systems required for human spaceflight without astronauts aboard.

Gaganyaan involves the development and testing of a human-rated launch vehicle, crew module, life-support systems and systems needed to safely return astronauts to Earth.

Eight Launch Missions Planned This Year

Alongside Gaganyaan, ISRO has set a target of completing eight launch vehicle missions and 12 satellite missions during the financial year.

Narayanan said India’s demand for space-based infrastructure has increased significantly. ISRO currently has 56 space assets, but the country would require between 200 and 300 satellites within five years, according to him.

He said meeting that requirement would require the government to work alongside private companies and start-ups, rather than relying on the public sector alone.

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) remains grounded for now, pending additional ground tests following two consecutive launch failures.

Private Space Sector Expands

Narayanan also pointed to the growth of India’s private space industry following the sectoral reforms introduced in 2020.

India now has around 440 space start-ups, working across areas including launch vehicles, satellites, applications and other space technologies.

He cited the successful orbital mission of Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram 1 as a significant development for private space companies and highlighted the role of cooperation between start-ups, ISRO and IN-SPACe.

Chandrayaan-4, Venus And Mars Missions Ahead

India’s space ambitions extend beyond Gaganyaan and satellite launches. The roadmap includes Chandrayaan-4 and Chandrayaan-5, as well as missions to Venus and a future Mars landing mission.

Narayanan also reiterated the target of establishing an Indian space station by 2035. He said India aims to launch more than 300 satellites over the next six to seven years, with industry and start-ups expected to play a larger role.

He pointed to earlier achievements including Chandrayaan-1’s discovery of water molecules on the Moon, Chandrayaan-3’s soft landing near the lunar south pole and the Aditya-L1 solar mission.

Reflecting on the evolution of India’s space programme, Narayanan said:

“A country which started the space programme 64 years back with bicycles and bullock carts,”

He added that by 2040, when India aims to land on the Moon, “India will be second to none”.

For ISRO, however, the immediate priority is the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission. The mission will provide a crucial test of the systems being developed for India’s planned human spaceflight programme.