Gaganyaan Mission Accelerates as ISRO Starts Building Human-Rated Launch Vehicle

Gaganyaan Mission Advances as ISRO Assembles Human-Rated Launch Vehicle

India has achieved significant milestones in space exploration over the past few years, and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is diligently working to ensure the success of the Gaganyaan mission. Currently, ISRO has commenced the assembly of the Human Rated Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (HLVM3) at the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Andhra Pradesh.

This initiative marks the beginning of the first uncrewed mission under the ambitious Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Mission. The assembly involves the S200 Solid Rocket Motor, starting with the stacking of the nozzle end segments. The HLVM3, an advanced version of the LVM3 rocket, is specially designed for human spaceflight. With a height of approximately 53 meters and a weight of around 640 tons, this three-stage rocket can transport about 10 tonnes to low earth orbit. Notably, it includes a human-rated design and a Crew Escape System (CES) to ensure the safe ejection of the crew module in the event of an emergency during reentry.

India’s space aspirations extend beyond this mission, with plans to establish its own space station named “Bharat Space Station” by 2035. Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh has also indicated that India aims to land an astronaut on the Moon by 2040. As for the Gaganyaan mission, the first Indian astronaut is expected to embark on a space journey by early 2026. Over the past decade, India has successfully launched 397 foreign satellites from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

Recently, ISRO Chief S Somanath announced that several uncrewed test flights will precede the manned mission, emphasizing the organization’s thorough and cautious approach to the Gaganyaan mission. Once launched, India will join the ranks of the United States, Russia, and China, becoming the fourth nation to send astronauts into space. The mission plans to transport one or two astronauts to Low Earth Orbit, approximately 400 kilometers above the Earth.