India’s Gaganyaan mission as the first-ever astronaut launch is postponed to 2026. India is set to send astronauts into space for the first time no earlier than 2026, which is approximately one year later than the previously established schedule. This adjustment follows a series of uncrewed flight tests that are expected to commence in December. During a recent talk in New Delhi, S. Somanath, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), explained that the delay is primarily due to the meticulous measures being implemented to guarantee the safety of the crew, as well as the difficulties encountered in developing indigenous technology for the mission. Somanath emphasized the complexity of the systems involved in the Gaganyaan program, stating that each component is being developed through a thorough and systematic approach. He expressed a desire to avoid incidents similar to those experienced by the Boeing Starliner, highlighting the importance of exercising caution. This statement was made during a press conference at ISRO’s Bengaluru Space Expo in September, where he noted that although Starliner successfully transported two astronauts to the International Space Station in June, it faced thruster malfunctions and ultimately returned to Earth in September without any crew members aboard.
The upcoming crewed mission, designated H1, aims to transport one or two astronauts to low Earth orbit, approximately 250 miles (400 kilometers) above the Earth’s surface. Should this mission succeed, India will join the ranks of only three other nations—namely the United States, Russia, and China—that have independently sent humans into space.In preparation for this significant endeavor, ISRO has undertaken a series of critical tests in recent years, which include the validation of uncrewed emergency escape systems and recovery protocols. Recently, the agency has been focused on its inaugural uncrewed test flight, designed to assess the technology necessary for future crewed missions. The crew and service modules are currently being moved from ISRO’s research facilities in Kerala and Karnataka to the spaceport located in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, as noted by Somanath. This test flight has been delayed by four years from its initial schedule, largely due to the complications arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, during which ISRO redirected some of its resources, such as liquid oxygen tanks and medical supplies, to support the overwhelmed healthcare system in the country.
