Synopsis: The first Gaganyaan crewed flight, set to last one day with 16 orbits of Earth, marks a significant milestone for India’s space program. ISRO Chairman S. Somnath hinted at the possibility of PM Narendra Modi participating in this historic mission. In an interview, he expressed pride in potentially sending the head of state to space, while also emphasizing the broader goals of developing human spaceflight capabilities.
The first Gaganyaan crewed flight is expected to last one day in space, with the astronaut completing 16 orbits of Earth.
ISRO Chairman S. Somnath has revealed that PM Narendra Modi could fly to space on India’s first human mission once it becomes operational.
In an interview with NDTV, when asked about sending the Prime Minister to space in an Indian vehicle from Indian soil, the ISRO Chairman stated, “All of us will be very, very proud if we have the ability to confidently send the head of state to space.”
He added, “While he [PM Modi] certainly has many other, more critical responsibilities, developing a human spaceflight program is a capability we'd like to cultivate. This mission is designed to contribute to the Gaganyaan space program, particularly the astronaut training program for the International Space Station (ISS). The experience gained will be instrumental in building our capacity in this domain."
The first Gaganyaan crewed flight is expected to last one day in space, with the astronaut completing 16 orbits of Earth.
Dr. Somnath said that this mission would effectively test the environmental life support and control systems.
Discussing the timeline for the first human space mission of India, Dr. S. Somnath noted, “We are at a critical juncture with Gaganyaan this year. We have three important missions scheduled. First and foremost is the unmanned mission to orbit, spend time in orbit and return; the second is a test of equipment and algorithms; the third is a test to check the launch pad scenario.”
He further added that the first test flight of the Gaganyaan mission is scheduled for the end of next year.
However, he clarified that “everything depends on the progress we are going to make.”
Earlier this year, four astronaut designates, described as “adventurers and valiant men preparing to go into space,” were introduced at the event. These officers were chosen from the Indian Air Force."
They included Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla.
In summary, the first Gaganyaan crewed flight is poised to be a landmark achievement for India, with ISRO gearing up for a one-day mission involving 16 orbits of Earth.
The mission aims to test critical systems and contribute to India's growing expertise in human spaceflight.
ISRO Chairman S. Somnath has expressed the possibility of PM Narendra Modi participating in this historic mission, highlighting the national pride and technical capabilities involved.
As preparations continue, the introduction of four astronaut designates from the Indian Air Force underscores the progress being made.
The coming year will be pivotal, with several key test missions planned to ensure the success of India's maiden human spaceflight endeavor.
