ISRO's Ambitious Gaganyaan Program: Three More Test Vehicle Missions Planned

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for a series of crucial test vehicle missions in line with their ambitious Gaganyaan program under the leadership of ISRO Chairman S. Somanath. This program aims to exhibit India's human spaceflight capabilities by launching a crew into a 400 km orbit and safely bringing them back to Earth in the Indian sea waters.

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for a series of crucial test vehicle missions in line with their ambitious Gaganyaan program under the leadership of ISRO Chairman S. Somanath. This program aims to exhibit India's human spaceflight capabilities by launching a crew into a 400 km orbit and safely bringing them back to Earth in the Indian sea waters.

The initial milestone, the TV-D1 test flight, is scheduled for October 21 and will be conducted at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The primary objective of TV-D1 is to assess the crew module, which is designed to carry Indian astronauts during the much-anticipated human spaceflight slated for late 2022.

Chairman Somanath unveiled ISRO's comprehensive roadmap during a press conference in Madurai, stating, "Following the inaugural test vehicle flight on October 21, we have planned three additional test missions - D2, D3, and D4. These missions will encompass exhaustive tests to ensure the success of the Gaganyaan project."

The TV-D1 test flight will involve launching the crew module into outer space, bringing it back safely to Earth, and recovering it in the Bay of Bengal. Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh has confirmed ISRO's commitment to conducting this initial test flight at Sriharikota.

During the press conference, Somanath also touched upon ISRO's Aditya-L1 program, India's first solar mission. He expressed confidence that the spacecraft would reach the Lagrange point (L1) around mid-January 2024, positioning it for various scientific experiments.

ISRO scientists recently executed a crucial trajectory correction maneuver on the Aditya L1 spacecraft, which had been launched on September 2 using a PSLV-C57 rocket.

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In addition to these exciting developments, Somanath shared insights about ISRO's plans for a new launch pad in Kulasekarapattinam in the Tuticorin district. This launch pad will be instrumental in launching smaller rockets and will provide opportunities for private players to participate in space missions.

Somanath highlighted the advantages of this new launch pad, stating, "The new launch pad in Kulasekarapattinam will open up opportunities for smaller Satellite Launch Vehicles and private players. Currently, land acquisition is underway, and we anticipate completion within the next two years."

In short, ISRO's Gaganyaan program is moving ahead full throttle, with a series of test missions, advancements in solar exploration, and a new launch pad that promises to transform the landscape of India's space endeavors.