ISRO’s ambitious Gaganyaan program is set to take a significant step forward with the launch of its first uncrewed mission in December, as announced by ISRO Chief V. Narayanan. The mission will utilize a half-humanoid robot named Vyommitra, serving as a test subject in place of a human astronaut. If this initial mission proves successful, two more uncrewed missions will follow in the coming year. The ultimate goal is to send Indian astronauts into space and return them safely by the first three months of 2027.
ISRO is also focusing on its lunar exploration missions, Chandrayaan 4 and Chandrayaan 5. Plans include placing a completed module of a space station into orbit by 2035.
Over the next three years, ISRO intends to significantly increase the number of satellites it launches. The agency is also working on improvements to its Mark III launcher, aiming to increase its payload capacity without increasing costs. Astronauts Shubhanshu Shukla and Prasanth Nair have undergone comprehensive training, including in the United States, to prepare them for space travel, and this expertise will be incorporated into the Gaganyaan program.