ISRO will take all precautions before manned Gaganyaan mission:Somanath

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Last Updated23/09/2024

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath said on Friday that the space agency will take all precautions by carrying out a sufficient number of tests before the manned Gaganyaan mission is launched.

ISRO Chairman S. Somanath announced on September 20, 2024, that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is taking every precaution by conducting extensive tests before launching its first manned mission under the Gaganyaan project.
Speaking at the Bengaluru Space Expo, Somanath emphasized the need for a careful and meticulous approach to ensure the mission's success.

Somanath referenced the recent issue with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which returned to Earth without astronauts. He stressed that ISRO does not want a similar incident and is committed to ensuring that all risks are minimized.

ISRO plans to launch the first uncrewed mission by December 2024, followed by three more uncrewed missions.
Only after successful completion of these missions will the manned mission take place.
The Chairman expressed the importance of caution, stating, "We should be very, very careful... that type of approach is important for us to make sure the mission finally becomes successful."
The first uncrewed rocket has already arrived at ISRO’s spaceport in Sriharikota for final integration.

The Gaganyaan project aims to demonstrate India’s human spaceflight capability by sending a crew of three astronauts to an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission. The astronauts will be safely returned to Earth, with landing planned in Indian sea waters.

Somanath also discussed several other major projects recently approved by the Union Cabinet with a total outlay of ₹22,000 crore. These include:
Chandrayaan-4: Following the success of previous lunar missions, this expansion has been given the green light.
Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM): Set to launch in March 2028, this mission will study the challenging atmosphere of Venus.
Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV): Part of ISRO’s continued advancement in space launch technology.
Bharatiya Anatriksh Station: A space station ISRO plans to build by 2035, with a vision of sending an Indian astronaut to the Moon by 2040.

The ISRO Chairman shared Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s long-term vision of India's space program by 2047, which includes not only regular space activities like communication and remote sensing but also inspiring a new generation through ambitious goals like space stations and human lunar exploration.

Somanath highlighted the Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM) as particularly significant. After successful missions to Mars and the Moon, Venus presents a new challenge due to its dense atmosphere, which is 100 times thicker than Earth’s.
He explained that understanding why Earth is habitable while Venus and Mars are not could provide critical insights into planetary evolution and the future of our own planet.