Not Just A ‘Manned’ Space Mission: Women Astronauts To Be Part Of 2021 Gaganyaan Mission, Says ISRO

India’s first human space flight in 2021 under the Gaganyaan Mission would also have women astronauts on board as per ISRO Chairman K Sivan, reports Economic Times.

Sivan also reiterated that the space agency is targeting a deadline of December 2021 for the space mission. The space crew for the mission would be trained in both India and Russia.

During a press conference Sivan was quoted as saying that, “The initial training for Gaganyaan will be done in India and advanced training maybe in Russia. Women astronauts will be there on the team. That's our aim”.

The Gaganyaan project was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address in 2018. The Union Cabinet has approved a budget of Rs 10,000 crore.

ISRO will deploy the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV MK III) to take three Indians on a spaceflight mission. The Indian astronauts will be called ‘Vyomanauts’ (Vyom means space in Sanskrit).

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