gaganyaan

Astronaut Angad Pratap's MTech thesis at IISc proposes a human fallback for compromised spacecraft navigation during re-entry. His research demonstrates astronauts can manually guide a capsule using simplified bank-angle control, a system already being tested for India's gaganyaan mission.

Isro has successfully conducted the Second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) for its gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. This critical test, involving a simulated crew module, validates the parachute system essential for astronaut recovery. The successful test marks a significant milestone, though the overall mission timeline may face further adjustments due to ongoing validations.

ISRO and IAM concluded a high-altitude human behaviour simulation near Leh, examining crew psychology under isolation and stress. Bengaluru-based Protoplanet built and operated the infrastructure, creating a confined, low-oxygen environment mimicking space missions. The exercise tested remote coordination, simulated spacewalks, and monitored crew responses to stress, aiding preparations for gaganyaan and highlighting private sector involvement.

Lucknow-born fashion designer Manish Tripathi's mission patch for astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom Mission 4 has achieved a unique honor. The design, symbolizing India's space legacy, is now featured on an official commemorative stamp released by the Department of Posts. This marks a significant cultural recognition, bridging space exploration and Indian design.

Veteran Russian cosmonaut Denis Matveev revealed conducting a SARS virus-related experiment in space in 2022 and training four Indian astronauts for the gaganyaan mission. Matveev, a recipient of the "Hero of the Russian Federation" award, shared his experiences at the Nehru Planetarium during his visit to India.

High in the rugged terrains of Ladakh, India's gaganyaan astronauts are immersed in demanding training amidst the thin mountain air. Mission MITRA, a pioneering partnership between ISRO and IAF, rigorously tests both crew and ground personnel's resilience in stressful scenarios, underpinning the mission's overall success.

Isro and IAM are conducting Mission MITRA in Leh, simulating spaceflight stresses to assess human behaviour. The study focuses on crew safety and performance, examining physiological adaptation, psychological resilience, and decision-making under extreme conditions. Findings will inform India's gaganyaan human spaceflight program, shifting focus to human readiness.

As Artemis II sends four humans towards lunar orbit for the first time in 53 years, the question for New Delhi is no longer whether to dream big in space – but whether it is moving fast enough

India's ISRO is planning ambitious future missions, including Chandrayaan-4 for lunar sample return and Chandrayaan-5 with a heavier, longer-lasting lander. Future endeavors also encompass Mars landing and Venus missions, alongside the gaganyaan human spaceflight program aiming for astronaut launches within two years.

India's gaganyaan mission gears up with a crucial tracking station now operational on Australia's Cocos (Keeling) Island. This facility, a collaboration with the Australian Space Agency, ensures a 360-degree view for the orbital module. Isro is also completing thousands of ground tests and propulsion checks for its upcoming uncrewed mission.

India's gaganyaan program received a significant boost with the successful qualification level load test of its drogue parachute at DRDO's RTRS facility. This dynamic test, simulating loads higher than maximum flight conditions, demonstrated India's capability in designing and manufacturing high-strength ribbon parachutes, marking a crucial step towards self-reliance in human spaceflight.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for successfully launching the first test vehicle for India's gaganyaan manned mission to space in 2025. The test involved a crew escape capsule and was the first in a series of over 20 tests to prepare for India's first human spaceflight mission. Modi stated that this launch brings India one step closer to realizing its first human space flight program.

The first crewless flight as part of the preparations for the ambitious gaganyaan project originally planned for this year and then pushed to the first half of 2021 due to Covid-19, will now only happen at the end of next year. Isro will eventually also launch a second crewless flight, now scheduled for 2022 before launching humans into space.

The Indian Space Research Organization is preparing for an unmanned test flight as part of its gaganyaan mission. On October 21, Isro will launch an empty crew module to assess the efficacy of the emergency escape system. The test will also examine components such as parachutes for spacecraft stabilization during reentry. The crew module will be recovered by the Navy in the Bay of Bengal. This test is a significant step towards India's goal of sending astronauts to low-Earth orbit by 2024.

Isro chairman K Sivan, while stating that a lot of design work has been completed for gaganyaan, said: "There will be several tests we'll do this year. Also, the final 4 astronaut-elects have been selected and they'll begin training in Russia from third week of January. He further said the first unmanned flight of Ganaganyaan is also targeted for this year.

Two flight surgeons will soon fly to Russia where they will get hands-on experience in space medicine from their Russian counterparts for the gaganyaan mission, an ISRO official said on Sunday. The flight surgeons are doctors from the Indian Air Force who have specialised in aerospace medicine. They will get hands-on training with flight surgeons in Russia, the official said.