Sunday, 13 Oct, 2024
By: Deepak Maggu
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For this mission, ISRO had contracted Galavkosmos, a branch of the Russian Space Agency, to train Indian astronauts. Under this contract, four astronauts have been prepared, who will be called Gaganauts.
The Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed that the flag of India will now fly in space very soon. Providing information, the Union Minister said that the preparations for the Gaganyaan mission have been completed. Two trials will be conducted by the end of this year, in which the first trial will be empty, and in the second trial, the female robot Vyommitra will be sent. After the study of both the trials, the main and final mission will be sent next year in 2023, in which one to three humans can be sent to space.
The initial study and technical development for the Gaganyaan mission was started in 2006. In 2008, initial designs and drafts were prepared and sent to the government for funding. But then this mission was gradually put in cold storage due to a lack of funding. In 2014, the new government revived the project and considered this mission necessary, starting work on it again. Prime Minister Modi officially announced this mission on 15 August, 2018. The total cost of this mission is about Rs. 10,000 crores.
(Development timeline of Gaganyaan)
| Flight | Date | Regime | Crew | Notes | Outcome |
| Re-entry Test | 18 December 2014 | Sub-orbital | N/A | Sub-orbital test of scaled down boilerplate Gaganyaan capsule, launched aboard the sub-orbital first test flight of ISRO'S GSLV Mark III rocket. | Success |
| Pad Abort Test | 5 July 2018 | Atmosheric | N/A | 4 minute test of Gaganyaan's Launch abort system from launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre. | Success |
| G1 | TBA | LEO | N/A | First orbital test flight of Gaganyaan capsule. | Planned |
| G2 | TBA | LEO | N/A | Second orbital test flight of Gaganyaan capsule. | Planned |
| H1 | TBA | LEO | One to Three | First crewed flight of Gaganyaan, will carry 1-3 Indian astronauts on a short orbital test flight. | Planned |
For this mission, ISRO had contracted Galavkosmos, a branch of the Russian Space Agency, to train Indian astronauts. Under this contract, four astronauts have been prepared, who will be called Gaganauts. Prior to this, ISRO had obtained CARE from HAL in 2014. A Pad Abort Test was successfully conducted in 2018 and a Service Module Propulsion System was also successfully tested in 2021. In January this year, the CE Engine Test and Static Agni Test of HS200 were successfully completed, and with this, all formalities have been completed for the Gaganyaan mission. Now, just waiting for the Indian astronauts to hoist the tricolor in space.
