“ISRO Chairman S Somnath Confident About Gaganyaan Programme, Indian Space Station Ready”

Bengaluru: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somnath has expressed optimism about the Gaganyaan programme, stating that everything is progressing well. In an interview with Akashvani news, Somnath acknowledged the challenges and scrutiny that come with a human space mission but assured that the programme is on track.

The Gaganyaan mission aims to demonstrate India’s human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three to an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission and returning them safely to Earth. Two unmanned missions will precede the manned mission, with the first unmanned mission scheduled for December.

Somnath also revealed that the design of the Indian Space Station is ready and needs to be scaled up. The space station is divided into five units, with plans to launch the first two units using the existing Launch Vehicle Mark 3. The remaining three units, which are larger, will require new generation launch vehicles. ISRO aims to have the space station ready by 2028.

The ISRO Chairman’s confidence in the Gaganyaan programme and the Indian Space Station is a testament to India’s growing capabilities in space exploration and technology.