ISRO chief V Narayanan has confirmed that India’s first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission is progressing vigorously and systematically, with the launch targeted within this calendar year.

The successful deployment of EOS-05 marks ISRO’s first achievement of the financial year, paving the way for six more launches including NVS-03.

The announcement was made at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, following the successful launch of the GSLV-F17/EOS-05 earth observation satellite. Narayanan described the achievement as a stepping stone, remarking that “reward for hard work is more work.” 

He emphasised that ISRO, in collaboration with industries and partner organisations, is fully engaged in preparing for the uncrewed Gaganyaan mission.

He highlighted that the activities for the mission are being carried out very vigorously and systematically, ensuring that India’s maiden human spaceflight program advances steadily.

This uncrewed mission will serve as a critical precursor to the eventual crewed flight, validating technologies such as the Crew Escape System, Orbital Module, and integration of the humanoid robot Vyommitra.

Narayanan praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership, noting that the government’s support has been instrumental in accelerating India’s space ambitions. He confirmed that ISRO is targeting six more launches during this financial year, including the navigation satellite NVS-03, which will strengthen India’s NavIC constellation.

At a press conference, Narayanan clarified that the EOS-05 satellite, which has an operational lifetime of nine years, is dedicated to earth observation and dismissed speculation that it was a spy satellite.

He stressed that the satellite will provide valuable data for agriculture, forestry, urban planning, and disaster management, reinforcing India’s capabilities in remote sensing.

The Gaganyaan mission represents a landmark in India’s space program, aiming to send Indian astronauts into low Earth orbit by 2027. 

The uncrewed missions scheduled for 2026 will validate critical systems, including environmental control, life support, and recovery operations. Vyommitra, the semi-humanoid robot, will play a vital role in simulating astronaut functions during these test flights.

ISRO’s broader roadmap includes the operationalisation of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) by 2035, with the first module already approved.

This indigenous space station will mark India’s entry into long-term human presence in space, complementing its lunar and planetary exploration programs.

The successful EOS-05 launch and the vigorous preparations for Gaganyaan underscore ISRO’s determination to expand India’s role in global space exploration.

With systematic testing, international collaborations, and government backing, India is positioning itself as a major player in human spaceflight and advanced satellite technology.

PTI