ISRO to Conduct Second Test Flight of Uncrewed Gaganyaan Mission on April 24
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for the second test flight of its uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, which is scheduled to take place on April 24th. ISRO Chairman S. Somanath made the announcement on the sidelines of an event organized by the Astronautical Society of India (ASI) in Ahmedabad.
The Gaganyaan project is a significant milestone in India’s space exploration journey. It aims to demonstrate the country’s human spaceflight capabilities by sending a three-person crew into orbit for a three-day mission, followed by a safe return to Earth in the Indian Ocean. The successful completion of the Gaganyaan mission will make India only the fourth nation in the world to have an active human spaceflight program, joining the ranks of the US, Russia, and China.
ISRO has been working diligently on the Gaganyaan project, with the first uncrewed test flight successfully conducted in December 2020. The second test flight, scheduled for April 24th, will further test the spacecraft’s systems and ensure its readiness for a manned mission. ISRO plans to conduct two more uncrewed missions before embarking on the manned mission, which is targeted for the end of next year.
India’s human spaceflight program is being handled purely by ISRO, which is working with partner vendors for a fully indigenous technology stack for Gaganyaan’s space infrastructure. This marks a key differentiating factor between India and the US, which contracts private firms such as SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin for a wide range of commercial as well as human spaceflight projects.
The Gaganyaan mission is not only a testament to India’s scientific and technological prowess but also a symbol of the country’s growing ambitions in space exploration. The successful completion of the mission will undoubtedly boost India’s stature in the global space ecosystem and inspire future generations of scientists and engineers.
