The Crossbill News Desk
India's ambitious Gaganyaan mission may take longer than originally anticipated, with the timeline for its first uncrewed test flight still under review as scientists prioritise safety and technical readiness.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman V. Narayanan said on Saturday that although efforts are underway to launch the first uncrewed mission by the end of 2026, the schedule could extend to the third quarter of 2027 depending on the progress of ongoing preparations.
Addressing the 17th annual Air Chief Marshal L.M. Katre Memorial Lecture organised by the Air Force Association at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Management Academy in Bengaluru, Narayanan stressed that human spaceflight missions demand the highest safety standards and cannot be rushed, The Indian Express reported.
He reiterated that the Gaganyaan programme envisages three uncrewed missions before India's first crewed spaceflight, with the outcome of each mission influencing subsequent stages of the programme.
According to him, a human-rated launch vehicle and multiple layers of safeguards are being developed to ensure astronaut safety during every phase of the mission.
Despite uncertainties surrounding the timeline, Narayanan said the programme has achieved significant milestones. He noted that more than 8,000 ground tests have already been conducted for Gaganyaan, including over 60 major tests and demonstrations during the 2025-26 financial year alone.
He added that ISRO's immediate focus remains on preparing for the first non-crewed missions and maintained that the programme is progressing steadily despite its complex technical demands.
The ISRO chairman also highlighted India's growing expertise in human spaceflight operations by recalling the country's role in the Axiom Mission 4 launch last year.
According to him, Indian scientists identified a technical issue before the mission's launch aboard a SpaceX rocket in June 2025, leading to its postponement until the problem was addressed.
“It was Indian scientists, including myself and my team, and the director of Human Space Flight Centre D.K. Singh was also there at the Kennedy Space Centre, who insisted that the launch should be stopped and it was stopped,” Narayanan said.
He added, “We have proven to the world that the Indian education system is second to none, that the Indian training is second to none even if we have to hold back a human-rated rocket at the last minute.”
Narayanan also said that ISRO has identified the reasons behind recent setbacks involving the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and is working towards restoring its full operational capability. At the same time, efforts are continuing to strengthen the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NavIC).
“I am happy to inform you that we have understood everything and we are in the process of coming back. If you say you have jumped 98% of the distance means you have fallen in the well. A space mission is zero or 100%. We have to be 100 on 100,” he said.
The ISRO chief further claimed that the country's space assets played an important role during Operation Sindoor last year, stating that ISRO satellites had “a key role in the success of Operation Sindoor”.
With thousands of tests completed and critical technologies still being validated, ISRO's flagship human spaceflight programme remains on course, even as the final timeline for India's first astronauts to travel to space will ultimately be dictated by safety considerations and mission readiness.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman V. Narayanan said on Saturday that although efforts are underway to launch the first uncrewed mission by the end of 2026, the schedule could extend to the third quarter of 2027 depending on the progress of ongoing preparations.
Addressing the 17th annual Air Chief Marshal L.M. Katre Memorial Lecture organised by the Air Force Association at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Management Academy in Bengaluru, Narayanan stressed that human spaceflight missions demand the highest safety standards and cannot be rushed, The Indian Express reported.
He reiterated that the Gaganyaan programme envisages three uncrewed missions before India's first crewed spaceflight, with the outcome of each mission influencing subsequent stages of the programme.
According to him, a human-rated launch vehicle and multiple layers of safeguards are being developed to ensure astronaut safety during every phase of the mission.
Despite uncertainties surrounding the timeline, Narayanan said the programme has achieved significant milestones. He noted that more than 8,000 ground tests have already been conducted for Gaganyaan, including over 60 major tests and demonstrations during the 2025-26 financial year alone.
He added that ISRO's immediate focus remains on preparing for the first non-crewed missions and maintained that the programme is progressing steadily despite its complex technical demands.
The ISRO chairman also highlighted India's growing expertise in human spaceflight operations by recalling the country's role in the Axiom Mission 4 launch last year.
According to him, Indian scientists identified a technical issue before the mission's launch aboard a SpaceX rocket in June 2025, leading to its postponement until the problem was addressed.
“It was Indian scientists, including myself and my team, and the director of Human Space Flight Centre D.K. Singh was also there at the Kennedy Space Centre, who insisted that the launch should be stopped and it was stopped,” Narayanan said.
He added, “We have proven to the world that the Indian education system is second to none, that the Indian training is second to none even if we have to hold back a human-rated rocket at the last minute.”
Narayanan also said that ISRO has identified the reasons behind recent setbacks involving the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and is working towards restoring its full operational capability. At the same time, efforts are continuing to strengthen the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NavIC).
“I am happy to inform you that we have understood everything and we are in the process of coming back. If you say you have jumped 98% of the distance means you have fallen in the well. A space mission is zero or 100%. We have to be 100 on 100,” he said.
The ISRO chief further claimed that the country's space assets played an important role during Operation Sindoor last year, stating that ISRO satellites had “a key role in the success of Operation Sindoor”.
With thousands of tests completed and critical technologies still being validated, ISRO's flagship human spaceflight programme remains on course, even as the final timeline for India's first astronauts to travel to space will ultimately be dictated by safety considerations and mission readiness.
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