Over 8,000 Ground Tests Successfully Completed

Bengaluru, January 30 (MNN): India’s ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme has entered its final phase ahead of the first uncrewed mission G1. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has confirmed that all propulsion tests required for human rating have been successfully completed.

According to ISRO, more than 8,000 ground tests, including structural qualification, software simulations, and environmental validation, have been carried out successfully, paving the way for the mission to progress as per schedule.

In a recent update, ISRO stated that an Integrated Mission Review Committee has been constituted to closely examine critical design and simulation gaps, ensuring a robust and forward-looking mission strategy.

This development follows rigorous testing of the Crew Module, Service Module, and the human-rated LVM3 launch vehicle, bringing India closer to joining the elite group of nations with independent human spaceflight capability.

The uncrewed G1 mission will carry Vyom Mitra, a humanoid robot, on a three-day flight to a 400-kilometre low Earth orbit, where life-support systems, re-entry procedures, and recovery mechanisms will be validated.

The mission is tentatively scheduled for March 2026, followed by the second uncrewed mission G2 later in 2026, and a crewed mission in 2027 with astronauts Shubhanshu Shukla, Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Ajit Krishnan, and Angad Pratap.

ISRO’s update reflects a cautious and methodical approach amid earlier delays caused by COVID-19 and technical challenges. The committee’s review is focused on addressing software simulations on test beds to expedite mission clearance. This phase builds on earlier successes such as the TV-D2 parachute test and integrated air-drop trials.