India's First Human Spaceflight Programme: Here Are The Key Milestones Achieved So Far In Gaganyaan Mission

India’s flagship human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, has crossed several significant technological and operational milestones as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) moves closer to sending Indian astronauts to space.

The mission is on track for its first human spaceflight, with precursor missions already underway and foundational systems in place.

In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Space Jitendra Singh said, "The human spaceflight programme is aimed at fulfilling aspirations of an established space fairing nation. The technological and manufacturing capabilities towards the goal of ‘Viksit Bharat’ will hinge on a transformative shift in the national research and technology development landscape".

According to the minister, the current status & key milestones achieved in Gaganyaan Programme include:

Mission Hardware Development Completed

• Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3): Successfully developed and ground-tested, this launcher is designed to safely carry humans into space.

• Orbital Module: Propulsion systems for both the Crew and Service Modules have been developed and tested. An engineering model of the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) has been realised.

• Crew Escape System (CES): All five types of motors crucial for emergency astronaut ejection have been developed and static tested.

Infrastructure and Operations Readiness

• ISRO has established several key facilities including:

  • Orbital Module Preparation Facility

  • Gaganyaan Control Centre and related facilities

  • Second Launch pad modifications

  • Crew training facility

• The ground communication network has been finalised, with IDRSS-1 feeder stations and terrestrial links established.

• Further, as part of the Crew recovery operations, the recovery assets have been finalised and the recovery plan has been worked out.

Flight Tests and Precursor Missions

• TV-D1 Test Vehicle: Successfully flight-tested to validate the Crew Escape System.

• TV-D2 and IADT-01: Currently in progress as the next steps before the manned mission.

• First Uncrewed Mission (G1): C32-G stage and CES motors have been realised. Further, HS200 Motors and CES Fore end up to Crew Module

  Jettisoning Motor have been stacked. The Crew Module and Service module structure have also been realised and Crew Module Phase-1 checks are completed.

Astronaut Preparation and Long-Term Vision

Training modules including incremental training for the ongoing Gaganyaan programme and proposed landing of an Indian on Moon is in line with the requirement of mission timelines.

Also Read: Gaganyaan Mission Advances As ISRO Successfully Conducts Crucial Service Module Propulsion System Tests