The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that its Bengaluru center has successfully assembled the crew module for the Gaganyaan spacecraft, equipping it with critical technologies. According to ISRO, the Gaganyaan module is fitted with a liquid propulsion system, which provides the necessary thrust for controlling the spacecraft’s direction and trajectory. This system ensures the module can safely navigate during re-entry and descent until a parachute is deployed for a secure landing, as reported by Space on January 27.
ISRO
The crew module is currently being transported to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Kerala, where it will be outfitted with electronic systems for communication, navigation, and power management. These systems are essential for controlling the spacecraft during flight operations. After this, the module will be sent to ISRO’s spaceport in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, for integration with the orbital module.
Before sending one or two astronauts to low Earth orbit, tentatively scheduled for 2026, India plans to test its technology through at least four uncrewed missions. The first test flight, G1, will evaluate the crew module and equipment module, testing re-entry procedures, parachute deployment, and safe landing in the Bay of Bengal. The G1 mission will also carry Vyomitra, a humanoid robot designed to validate the technology.
While ISRO has not announced a specific date for the test flight, it could take place as early as February this year. India aims to conduct 10 orbital launches in 2024, though these may not include the G2 and G3 test flights. Shubhanshu Shukla, one of the four astronauts selected for the crewed Gaganyaan mission, is currently undergoing training with Axiom Space in Houston, USA, for a two-week mission to the International Space Station (ISS) scheduled for April.
ISRO has recently made significant progress in developing engines for the rocket that will launch Gaganyaan. The agency has conducted several critical tests, including verifying the emergency escape system and spacecraft recovery procedures.
Currently, only the United States, Russia, and China have the capability to independently launch humans into space. However, India’s space program has achieved notable successes in the past year, including the Chandrayaan-3 Moon landing mission and the launch of the Aditya-1 solar probe to Lagrange Point 1. India also plans to establish an orbital space station by 2035 and send astronauts to the Moon by 2040.
