India's ambitious space exploration program is set for significant milestones, with the Gaganyaan mission and Chandrayaan 4 leading the way. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath announced that Gaganyaan, India’s first crewed spaceflight, is expected to launch by the end of 2026. This groundbreaking mission aims to send astronauts into a 400-kilometer orbit for three days before safely landing in Indian waters.

The ?90 billion Gaganyaan project positions India as the fourth nation to achieve human spaceflight, joining the Soviet Union, the US, and China. Preparations are well underway, with the first uncrewed test flight featuring a humanoid robot, Vyommitra, scheduled for early 2024. Two additional uncrewed launches will follow, testing critical systems before the crewed mission. Astronauts, including Group Captains Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Angad Pratap, Ajit Krishnan, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla, are undergoing rigorous training for the mission.

Speaking at IIT-Guwahati, Mr. Somanath emphasized the complexity and readiness of the Gaganyaan project, which has been in development for four years. Despite minor delays, he expressed confidence in the timeline.

In addition to Gaganyaan, ISRO is gearing up for Chandrayaan 4, a follow-up to the successful Chandrayaan 3 lunar landing in 2023. Chandrayaan 4 aims to collect samples from the Moon’s south pole and return them to Earth, marking a first for India. The mission will involve innovative technology, including dual rocket launches to interlock satellites in space, due to the heavy payload requirements.

“This mission is unprecedented. No nation has attempted such a complex maneuver before. We hope to become the first to achieve it,” Mr. Somanath said, highlighting India’s determination to pioneer advanced space technologies.

India's ambitious space exploration program is set for significant milestones, with the Gaganyaan mission and Chandrayaan 4 leading the way. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath announced that Gaganyaan, India’s first crewed spaceflight, is expected to launch by the end of 2026. This groundbreaking mission aims to send astronauts into a 400-kilometer orbit for three days before safely landing in Indian waters.

The ?90 billion Gaganyaan project positions India as the fourth nation to achieve human spaceflight, joining the Soviet Union, the US, and China. Preparations are well underway, with the first uncrewed test flight featuring a humanoid robot, Vyommitra, scheduled for early 2024. Two additional uncrewed launches will follow, testing critical systems before the crewed mission. Astronauts, including Group Captains Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Angad Pratap, Ajit Krishnan, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla, are undergoing rigorous training for the mission.

Speaking at IIT-Guwahati, Mr. Somanath emphasized the complexity and readiness of the Gaganyaan project, which has been in development for four years. Despite minor delays, he expressed confidence in the timeline.

In addition to Gaganyaan, ISRO is gearing up for Chandrayaan 4, a follow-up to the successful Chandrayaan 3 lunar landing in 2023. Chandrayaan 4 aims to collect samples from the Moon’s south pole and return them to Earth, marking a first for India. The mission will involve innovative technology, including dual rocket launches to interlock satellites in space, due to the heavy payload requirements.

“This mission is unprecedented. No nation has attempted such a complex maneuver before. We hope to become the first to achieve it,” Mr. Somanath said, highlighting India’s determination to pioneer advanced space technologies.