ISRO Plans Three Uncrewed Missions Ahead of Gaganyaan Launch

Bengaluru: Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman V. Narayanan has confirmed that India will conduct three uncrewed missions before launching its first human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan.

Speaking after the International Conference on Spacecraft Mission Operations, Narayanan said the programme is progressing in line with the vision outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He noted that preparations are currently focused on the first of the planned uncrewed missions, with all activities moving as scheduled. Details regarding timelines will be announced later.

Highlighting the significance of mission operations, Narayanan explained that while a launch vehicle functions for only about 20–25 minutes, mission operations continue for much longer periods—sometimes spanning years. He pointed out that communication satellites typically require continuous management for up to 15 years.

He also referenced India’s Mars Orbiter Mission, where mission operations lasted nearly 300 days to ensure success. According to him, such operational precision becomes even more critical in human spaceflight missions.

Discussing the challenges involved, Narayanan said this will be India’s first attempt at sending humans into space, requiring several advanced developments. These include human-rating the launch vehicle, building a crew escape system, developing environmental control and safety systems, and ensuring seamless interaction between astronauts, machines, and software.

The conference itself will focus heavily on mission operations and emerging technologies, featuring around 400 research papers. Narayanan emphasized that the event will benefit students, startups, and engineers working in the space sector.

With inputs from IANS