New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation is working towards the first uncrewed mission of its ambitious Gaganyaan programme, which is scheduled for a human spaceflight in 2027, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan said on Friday.
Gaganyaan is India’s first human spaceflight mission and aims to send a three-member crew into space for a three-day mission before bringing them back safely to Earth. Narayanan said three uncrewed missions will precede the human flight, with preparations currently focused on the first of these critical test missions.
“The Gaganyaan programme is planned in 2027. Before that, three uncrewed missions are planned. We are working towards the first uncrewed mission,” he told reporters.
He said scientists are carrying out extensive testing to ensure the mission’s success, stressing that crew safety remains the top priority. Narayanan said every system involved in the mission must be fully qualified and meet the highest standards.
“There are lots of tests happening. Safety of the Gaganyatri is very, very important. We have to be very careful and qualify every system. In the rocket system, we have to score one hundred out of one hundred,” he said.
He added that ISRO is aiming for flawless execution and is leaving no room for error in its preparations.
Commenting on the PSLV-C62 mission, which encountered an anomaly in the third stage of the rocket after lift-off on January 12, Narayanan said scientists are closely analysing the issue. He said all aspects of the mission are being studied to identify the cause and ensure corrective measures are taken.
The PSLV-C62/EOS N1 mission suffered a setback due to the third-stage anomaly, prompting ISRO to initiate a detailed technical review to prevent similar issues in future launches.
