Produced by: Tarun Mishra
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that the country's first astronaut launch under the Gaganyaan mission is now planned for no sooner than 2026, pushing back the timeline by roughly a year.
ISRO Chairman S. Somanath cited a need for extreme caution and challenges in developing indigenous technology as key reasons for the delay, emphasizing a focus on crew safety.
Referencing the Boeing Starliner’s recent technical issues, Somanath stressed the importance of rigorous testing to avoid similar complications and ensure a reliable mission.
An uncrewed test flight, G1, is scheduled for December, aiming to validate critical mission elements like reentry and parachute deployment, ending with a splashdown in the Bay of Bengal.
The G1 test will include a humanoid robot named Vyomitra, designed to assess environmental conditions and validate crew safety technology for future astronaut missions.
With additional funding of 111 billion rupees ($1.32 billion USD), ISRO has added a fourth uncrewed test flight. These flights are expected to be completed before the crewed mission, allowing time to refine systems.
Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force pilot selected for the mission, is training with Axiom Space in Houston. He will practice spacecraft operations, including navigation and docking, in preparation for a potential 2026 launch.
If successful, India will become the fourth country to independently launch astronauts into space, joining the ranks of the United States, Russia, and China.