Gaganyaan's first unmanned mission will be completed within 4 months:
Preparations for Gaganyaan are also now almost at their final stage. Dr. Narayanan said that so far, about eight thousand tests have been completed to send astronauts safely into space and bring them back to Earth. However, at least three unmanned missions will be conducted before sending humans into space. In the first test, a human-rated rocket and crew module will be sent into space without an astronaut to verify its various safety features. Important issues such as habitable environment, automation and safe return to Earth will be the focus of the test. The success of these tests will pave the way for the next manned mission. On the other hand, ISRO is also emphasizing on increasing the launch capacity to meet India's growing demand in space. According to the chairman, the country may need about 200 to 300 new satellites in the next five years. Such a huge demand cannot be met only by the government system, private companies will also have to come forward. Private participation in the country has increased rapidly after the 2020 space sector reforms. Currently, about 440 space start-ups are working, the ISRO chief said. At the same time, various ground tests and reviews are underway in the case of PSLV after two consecutive launch problems. As a result, the next steps are being taken by prioritizing safety and reliability.
The success of private companies in India's space program has also created new confidence. The successful launch of Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 into orbit has brought to the fore the progress of the country's private space industry. In addition, US companies are also relying on India's LVM3 for launching heavy satellites. The Earth observation NISAR satellite, developed in a joint venture with NASA, is also an important example of India's space capabilities. As a result, the plan to advance India's space sector on a larger scale by utilizing government agencies as well as private industry and international cooperation is becoming clear. ISRO's goal does not stop even after Gaganyaan. After the success of Chandrayaan-3, work is progressing on Chandrayaan-4 and Chandrayaan-5. In addition, there are plans to launch missions to Venus and send a lander to Mars in the future. As a more distant goal, India has plans to build its own space station 'Indian Space Station' by 2035. The country has also set a goal of sending Indian astronauts to the moon by 2040. The first important step in that long journey is going to be the unmanned test of Gaganyaan. The entire country is now looking forward to the success of this mission over the next few months.