Chennai: ISRO chairman V. Narayanan has announced that the Indian Space Research Organisation is actively preparing for the inaugural uncrewed mission of the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, targeted ahead of the crewed launch in 2027. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Narayanan emphasized rigorous testing of critical systems to ensure astronaut safety, marking a pivotal step in India’s quest for independent manned space access, according to reports.
The Gaganyaan initiative plans three uncrewed flights—Gaganyaan-G1 in March 2026—to validate the human-rated LVM3 launch vehicle, crew module, and life-support mechanisms before sending three Gaganyatris (astronauts) into low-Earth orbit for a three-day mission. “We are working towards the first uncrewed mission,” Narayanan stated, underscoring exhaustive qualifications for every component, including environmental controls and re-entry systems, with the rocket needing “one hundred out of one hundred” reliability.
Ongoing trials cover propulsion, avionics, and abort scenarios, building on successful Vyommitra robot simulations and parabolic flight validations. Narayanan highlighted safety as non-negotiable: “The safety of the Gaganyatri is very important. We have to do a perfect job,” the reports quoted the ISRO chief as saying. Despite a recent PSLV-C62 third-stage anomaly on January 12, ISRO’s iterative reviews bolster confidence, drawing from Chandrayaan and Aditya-L1 triumphs.
This uncrewed precursor, potentially from Sriharikota, will deploy the crew module to 400 km orbit, testing splashdown recovery in the Bay of Bengal. Success paves the way for two more unmanned sorties by late 2026, culminating in India’s historic crewed flight—elevating its status among just four nations with human spaceflight capability, the reports said.
The announcement energizes India’s space ambitions amid Budget 2026 allocations, with ₹12,619 crore for human spaceflight. Narayanan affirmed ISRO’s resolve, stating: “Our aim is the success of Gaganyaan.”
