Gaganyaan: First Uncrewed Spaceflight Mission Expected This Month

India’s ambitious Gaganyaan Mission, aimed at demonstrating ISRO’s human spaceflight capabilities, is set to begin its first uncrewed or experimental mission by the end of 2024. Minister of State for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, informed the Rajya Sabha about the stipulated timeline for the mission. Additional uncrewed missions are scheduled for Q3 of 2025 and Q1 of 2026, while a crewed mission is planned for October-December 2026.

Progress in Mission Preparation

Significant progress has been made toward the mission’s first phase. Key components, including the solid and liquid propulsion stages for human-rated launch vehicles, are ready for flight integration. The C32 cryogenic stage is nearing completion, while the structures for the Crew Module and Service Module have been realised. Flight integration activities are currently underway, marking a crucial step toward achieving the mission’s objectives.

Challenges in the Gaganyaan Mission

The Gaganyaan Mission faces challenges related to the supply of raw materials and semiconductor components, which are essential for its success. Singh identified these as major hurdles, citing the global semiconductor shortage as a key issue. The timely delivery of hardware and subsystems from industry partners also presents risks that require constant monitoring and intervention by higher management.

Steps Taken to Address Challenges

To counter supply chain issues, multiple sources for critical elements have been identified. Subsystem delivery schedules are closely monitored to ensure timely progress. A Gaganyaan Industry Meet was also organised to sensitize industries about the quality requirements for human space missions and the importance of on-time hardware delivery.

Crew Training Updates

Progress has been made in training the crew, known as Gaganyatris. Out of three semesters of the training programme, two have been completed. ISRO has also realised key facilities, including the Independent Training Simulator and Static Mockup Simulators, which are essential for effective astronaut training.

Future Human Space Missions

India’s space programme is expanding beyond Gaganyaan. By 2035, the country envisions establishing the Bharatiya Antariksha Station, and by 2040, it aims to achieve an Indian Moon landing involving human participation. These milestones are part of a broader vision to advance India’s capabilities in human space exploration.