ISRO’s most ambitious project, Gaganyaan, aims to send humans into space using indigenous technology, a feat achieved so far only by the US, Russia, and China. If successful, the mission will make India the fourth country in history to independently launch humans into space, creating a historic milestone.
The mission’s primary goal is to safely send three Indian astronauts to Low Earth Orbit, about 400 km above Earth. The astronauts will spend three days in space conducting scientific experiments in microgravity before their capsule returns and lands in the Bay of Bengal. ISRO is using its LVM3 rocket, redesigned as a “human-rated” system with enhanced safety across all components. The spacecraft includes an Orbital Module comprising a Crew Module, which provides an Earth-like environment for astronauts to sit and breathe, and a Service Module supplying fuel and power, along with a Crew Escape System to protect astronauts during emergencies.
ISRO has selected four Indian Air Force test pilots for the mission: Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla. They received initial training at Russia’s Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, followed by extensive advanced training at ISRO’s Bengaluru facility covering spacesuit operations, survival in vacuum conditions, and emergency response. Three of the four will ultimately fly on the final mission.
Before sending humans, ISRO is conducting uncrewed test missions to verify system safety, including sending a half-humanoid robot named “Vyommitra” into space. The robot will monitor spacecraft parameters, operate control panels, and transmit signals to ground control, helping ISRO study the physical stresses astronauts will face before the crewed flight.
The Indian government has allocated approximately Rs 10,000 crore for this prestigious project, a modest sum compared to what the US and China spend on similar missions. Gaganyaan is not just a single space mission but is seen as the foundation for India’s future plans to build its own independent space station.