In a major milestone toward space exploration, India is setting its sights on ambitious goals, spearheaded by the Gaganyaan Mission and the establishment of an Indian space station by 2035. Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over a high-level meeting, assessing the progress of the Gaganyaan Mission and charting the course for India's future in space exploration.

The Department of Space presented a comprehensive overview of the Gaganyaan Mission, highlighting various technological advancements, including human-rated launch vehicles and system qualifications. The discussion revolved around approximately 20 major tests, which encompass three uncrewed missions of the Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3). The first demonstration flight of the Crew Escape System Test Vehicle is scheduled for October 21, with a confident outlook for a full-fledged launch in 2025.

Building on the momentum of India's recent space endeavors, such as the Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya L1 Missions, Prime Minister Modi directed the nation to reach for even more ambitious horizons. This includes the establishment of the 'Bharatiya Antariksha Station' (Indian Space Station) by 2035 and the aim to send the first Indian astronaut to the Moon by 2040.

To realize this visionary mission, the Department of Space will craft a roadmap for Moon exploration, encompassing a series of Chandrayaan missions, the development of a Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), construction of a new launch pad, and the establishment of human-centric laboratories with associated technologies.

In a further call to action, Prime Minister Modi urged Indian scientists to embark on interplanetary missions, including a Venus Orbiter Mission and a Mars Lander. Expressing confidence in India's capabilities, he reaffirmed the nation's commitment to reaching new heights in the realm of space exploration.

As part of the preparations for the Gaganyaan mission, ISRO is set to conduct the Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission, a crucial component of its ambitious human space mission. This mission will simulate abort conditions during the ascent trajectory, with crew escape systems separating from the test vehicle at an altitude of approximately 17 km. The autonomous abort sequence will then commence, involving the separation of crew escape systems and the deployment of a series of parachutes, culminating in the safe touchdown of the crew module in the sea, about 10 km from the coast of Sriharikota.

ISRO Welcomes Public to Witness TV-D1 Flight for Gaganyaan Program

ISRO's First Test Flight of Gaganyaan's Crew Escape System Set for Oct 21

Gaganyaan: ISRO Gears Up for Human-Based Mission: Crew Escape System Test