India’s ambitious human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, has achieved major technological milestones, with critical systems completed and preparations for the first uncrewed mission entering the final stages, the government informed Parliament on Wednesday.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh said significant progress has been made across launch vehicle development, spacecraft systems, crew safety mechanisms, astronaut training and mission infrastructure.
The Minister said development and ground testing of all propulsion stages and structures of the Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3) have been completed. The propulsion systems for both the Crew Module and Service Module of the Orbital Module have also been developed, tested and qualified.
ISRO has also developed and tested key technologies required for human spaceflight, including the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) engineering model, deceleration system, Crew Module up-righting system, thermal protection system and end-to-end avionics.
The Crew Escape System (CES), designed to ensure astronaut safety during emergencies, has reached an advanced stage of development. Five types of escape motors have been developed and successfully completed static testing, while all related structures have been realised and qualified.
The Minister said substantial infrastructure required for the mission has also been established, including the Orbital Module Preparation Facility, Gaganyaan Control Centre, Gaganyaan Control Facility, Astronaut Training Facility, and modifications to the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC SHAR).
ISRO has already completed several critical test missions, including the successful Test Vehicle-D1 (TV-D1) mission, which validated the Crew Escape System during flight. Two Integrated Air Drop Tests (IADT-01 and IADT-02) using a simulated Crew Module have also been successfully conducted to validate the spacecraft’s deceleration system, while preparations for the TV-D2 mission are in an advanced stage.
For mission operations, the ground communication network has been finalised, with feeder stations for the Indian Data Relay Satellite System (IDRSS-1) and terrestrial communication links already established. India has also signed agreements with international space agencies for cross-support during mission operations.
The Minister said recovery assets and operational plans for safely retrieving astronauts after splashdown have also been finalised.
Preparations are now focused on the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission (G1). All three stages of the HLVM3 launch vehicle – HS200, L110 and C32 – along with Crew Escape System motors are ready. Assembly, integration and testing of the Crew Module and Service Module are nearing completion, while integrated mission simulations are currently underway.
The astronauts selected for the Gaganyaan programme have completed their generic training at Glavkosmos in Russia and are presently undergoing mission-specific training at the Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru.
The parliamentary reply also highlighted progress in developing the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS), one of the most critical technologies for human spaceflight. The indigenous system is designed to maintain a habitable environment inside the Crew Module by regulating temperature, humidity, pressure and carbon dioxide levels throughout the mission.
The ECLSS is currently undergoing development testing, with a reduced version scheduled to be demonstrated during the upcoming uncrewed Gaganyaan missions before it is deployed in a crewed flight.
To support future astronaut missions, ISRO has upgraded the Second Launch Pad with specialised facilities, including a Crew Access Arm, bubble lift, zip-line emergency escape system, enhanced checkout facilities and modifications to the Second Vehicle Assembly Building, enabling integration, testing and launch of India’s first human spaceflight missions.
The Minister said the ongoing development and testing activities are aimed at ensuring the safety, reliability and operational readiness of the Gaganyaan programme, which will mark India’s entry into the select group of nations capable of independently sending astronauts into space.
