India's 'Gaganyaan' mission is likely to be launched either by the end of 2022 or early 2023, the  Union minister Jitendra Singh mentioned on Wednesday. The mission, uniquely scheduled for a launch by 2022, was postponed due to covid pandemic. It aims to launch a manned mission in the Lower Earth Orbit.

While addressing a webinar on 'Future of India-Oceania Space Technology Partnerships' organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) here, the Unioin Minister of State in the Department of Space Jitendra Singh said,  "We could have actually done this (launched Gaganyaan by 2022). We had planned to time it along the 75th anniversary of India's Independence, but it could not happen that way because of the inevitable delay caused due to COVID-19. "But I am sure, maybe by the end of next year or may be (by) the beginning of 2023, we would be able to do that as well."

He further said a brainstorming exercise by space scientists and government officials in 2015-16 helped them understand where space technology could be used, adding that "Space technology has a role to play, virtually, in every sector."

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