In a pivotal meeting led by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country’s space agency unveiled a comprehensive plan to realize its first crewed mission in 2025, laying the groundwork for an eventual lunar mission. The upcoming Gaganyaan mission represents a significant milestone for India as it marks the first time the nation will send astronauts into space using its indigenous capabilities. The preparations are in full swing, with a demonstration flight of the Crew Escape System Test Vehicle scheduled for October 21. Following this, the launch vehicle will undergo three test missions without human passengers on board. In total, India is planning to carry out around 20 tests in preparation for sending astronauts into space.
To support these ambitious goals, the country is constructing a new launch pad and developing a next-generation launch vehicle. This move underscores India’s commitment to achieving its space exploration objectives, which encompass not only the establishment of the Bharatiya Antariksha Station, or the Indian Space Station, by 2035 but also the launch of a crewed mission to the moon by 2040.
