gaganyaan-

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The first test flight of ISRO's Gaganyaan, which will carry humans into space, will take place before June. The first flight will be without passengers with an unmanned probe. A second flight will be made with a robot later. Human flight is in 2025. The project announced in 2014 was delayed due to covid.

In the first test flight, the Gaganyaan Orbital Module, comprising the Gaganyaan Service Module and Crew Module, will be launched into space by the GSLV rocket from the Satish Dhawan Rocket Station in Sriharikota. The orbital module will be launched at an altitude of 165 km above the Earth. It will then be lifted to a height of over 350 km. From there it will orbit the earth once. Then it will return to the earth and fall into the sea. The probe will not carry passengers or the robot Vyommitra.

Being able to land the probe at the South Pole of the Moon and also to place the probe at the Lagrange Point has boosted ISRO's confidence. All preparations for the Gaganyaan project have been completed. Probe, rocket, life support system, precision software and emergency escape systems are ready. Three airmen have also been trained for the trip.

The project cost is Rs 10,000 crore. If successful, India will become the fourth country to send humans into space. Other countries are Russia, USA and China.

Will land in sea

Preparations so far