Gaganyaan Clears Key Human-Rating Milestones
First uncrewed mission with Vyommitra targeted for Q4 2026; Bharatiya Antariksh Station planned by 2035
- Gaganyaan has achieved major milestones in critical human-rating and crew safety systems.
- First uncrewed mission carrying Vyommitra is targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026.
- Two additional uncrewed missions are planned in 2027 before India’s maiden human orbital flight.
- Bharatiya Antariksh Station is targeted to become operational by 2035.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 6th Aug: India’s first indigenous human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, has achieved major milestones in the development and validation of critical human-rating systems, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
The Minister said the Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3) has completed development and ground testing of all propulsion stages and structures. Propulsion systems for the Crew Module and Service Module have also been developed, tested and qualified.
Engineering models of key systems, including the Environmental Control and Life Support System, Thermal Protection System, Deceleration System, Crew Module Up-righting System and end-to-end avionics, have been successfully developed and tested.
Significant progress has also been made on crew safety. All five types of motors for the Crew Escape System have undergone successful static testing, while associated structures have been realised and qualified.
The TV-D1 Test Vehicle Mission, conducted to validate the Crew Escape System during flight, has been successfully completed. Two Integrated Air Drop Tests using a simulated Crew Module have also validated the deceleration system, while preparations for the TV-D2 mission are underway.
Dr. Singh said the first uncrewed experimental Gaganyaan mission carrying Vyommitra, a half-humanoid robot, is targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026. It will validate technologies being developed for the programme before astronauts are sent into orbit.
Two additional uncrewed missions in the configuration of the first crewed flight are targeted for 2027, ahead of India’s maiden human orbital mission.
Looking beyond Gaganyaan, the Minister said the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) is planned to become operational by 2035. ISRO has finalised an overall configuration comprising five modules, while the government has approved development and launch of the first module, BAS-01.
The Centre had approved a budgetary allocation of ₹20,193 crore in September 2024 for eight missions under India’s Human Spaceflight Programme.
ISRO is also working with international partners, including the European Space Agency, Australian Space Agency, France’s CNES and Russia’s Roscosmos, in areas ranging from network support and crew recovery to specialised training and human spaceflight systems.
