ISRO is preparing for the launch of the initial uncrewed mission of the Gaganyaan program in December, as confirmed by ISRO Chief V. Narayanan. This mission will deploy Vyommitra, a half-humanoid, as a surrogate for a human crew. Following the uncrewed mission, two additional missions without a crew are planned for next year. The objective is to send the first Indian astronauts into space and ensure their safe return by the first quarter of 2027. The team of astronauts has already been chosen and trained, and preparations for the manned mission are in progress.
Beyond Gaganyaan, ISRO is advancing on Chandrayaan 4 and Chandrayaan 5, with plans to put a completed module of a space station into orbit by 2035.
In the coming years, ISRO intends to drastically increase the number of satellite launches, approximately tripling the current figures. ISRO is also working to improve the Mark III launcher’s payload capacity without increasing expenses. Astronauts Shubhanshu Shukla and Prasanth Nair have received training, which will be used in the Gaganyaan program.
