ISRO to announce launch date of first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission soon
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to announce the launch date of its first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, a crucial step towards India’s first human spaceflight. ISRO Chairperson V. Narayanan stated that the mission is progressing well, with all activities on track.
The uncrewed mission, designated HLVM-3 G1/OM1, will demonstrate end-to-end capabilities, including aerodynamics characterisation of the human-rated launch vehicle, mission operations of the orbital module, and re-entry and recovery of the crew module. The mission will carry a half-humanoid robot, Vyommitra, to simulate human presence in space.
Three uncrewed missions are planned before the crewed Gaganyaan flight, scheduled for 2027. The first uncrewed mission was initially expected in December 2025 but has been rescheduled to the first half of 2026.
ISRO has completed 80% of the necessary tests and is working with 20,000 employees, 450 industrial partners, and 300 academic institutions on the Gaganyaan programme.
