Gaganyaan Missions poised for lift off starting next year end

Dr Somanath, ISRO Chairman said, “The first test flight of the Gaganyaan is scheduled for the end of next year if all goes well. But everything depends on the progress we are going to make( in next 15 months).”

The Gaganyaan Mission is at a critical stage this year with three important missions scheduled for this year,  said ISRO Chairman Dr S Somanath.

The mission  is  at a critical juncture with Gaganyaan this year. There are three important missions scheduled. First and foremost is the unmanned mission to orbit, spend time in orbit and return; the second is a test about equipment and algorithm; the third is a test to check the launch pad scenario.

Then there is  a manned mission te star attraction.  For this  four astronaut-designates have been selected and are undergoing training. Of them, only one would ultimately fly to space in the first mission.

The first Gaganyaan crewed flight may last  just one day in space with the astronaut doing 16 orbits of Earth. This is basically to   effectively test the environmental life support and control systems.

Prashanth Nair, Angad Prathap, Ajit Krishnan, and Shubhanshu Shukla are the four test pilots of the Indian Air Force who have been chosen for the Gaganyaan mission. The human space flight second  mission will aim  to launch a crew of up to three members into a Low Earth Orbit and bring them back after the mission  lasting up to a week.

Thereafter India aims to have a permanent manned  space station, manned missions to Chandrama and ultimately a full fledged self sustaining base on Chandrama. All this within the foreseeable future.