Chennai

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is steadily progressing towards the first uncrewed flight of the Gaganyaan programme, India’s maiden human spaceflight mission, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan said on Friday.

The Gaganyaan mission, scheduled for 2027, aims to send a crew of three astronauts into space for a three-day orbital journey before ensuring their safe return to Earth. Ahead of the crewed launch, ISRO has planned three uncrewed missions to validate the mission’s systems and safety protocols.

Speaking to reporters, Narayanan said preparations are currently underway for the first of these uncrewed missions. He added that scientists across ISRO centres are carrying out extensive testing to ensure mission readiness.

Emphasising the importance of safety, the ISRO chief said every component of the mission must undergo rigorous qualification. “The safety of the Gaganyatris is our top priority. Each system has to be tested thoroughly, and the launch vehicle must meet the highest standards of reliability,” he said, adding that perfection was the goal for the mission’s success.

Meanwhile, commenting on the recent PSLV-C62 mission, which faced a technical issue after launch on January 12, Narayanan said ISRO scientists are carefully examining all aspects of the mission. The PSLV-C62/EOS N1 mission encountered a problem in the third stage of the rocket, prompting a detailed investigation.

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He said the analysis would help identify the cause of the anomaly and ensure corrective measures are implemented to strengthen future missions.