New Delhi, April 10: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday for the successful completion of the second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) for India’s first human space mission, Gaganyaan. The mission is set to launch in 2027. He described this achievement as a significant milestone in the preparations for this ambitious mission.
Dr. Singh took to the social media platform X to express his congratulations, stating, “Kudos to ISRO for the successful completion of the second Integrated Air Drop Test for Gaganyaan, India’s first human spaceflight, scheduled for next year.”
He further noted, “The second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) was successfully conducted at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This marks a crucial milestone in the preparations for the Gaganyaan mission.”
India’s inaugural human space mission is slated for launch from Sriharikota in 2027. The mission has faced delays due to technical complexities, but India is developing its capabilities indigenously. It is important to note that critical technologies related to space missions are kept confidential, and no country shares them.
The government has allocated approximately ₹10,000 crore for the Gaganyaan program. The mission is now in its final stages, with the first crewed flight expected in the first quarter of 2027.
Earlier, on April 8, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan stated that preparations for the uncrewed Gaganyaan mission are progressing smoothly. Speaking at the inaugural session of the second International Conference on Smart Spacecraft Mission Operations, he remarked, “We are meeting just before the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission. This is not an ordinary mission; it is a significant endeavor for India. There will be three uncrewed missions before the final crewed launch. All activities for the first mission are progressing well, although challenges remain.”
The conference included participation from former ISRO heads A.S. Kiran Kumar and S. Somanath, along with directors from ISRO centers, students, and representatives from space startups.
Meanwhile, on April 4, preparations for India’s human spaceflight advanced further when four selected astronauts began high-altitude experiments in Ladakh under “Mission Mitra” (Mapping Interoperability Features and Reliability Assessment). This program aims to evaluate human performance in extreme environments.
Group Captain Shubhashu Shukla and P. Balakrishnan Nair, among others, arrived in Leh earlier this week for astronaut acclimatization. This mission is supported by a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, medical experts, and psychologists, marking another significant step in India’s journey towards human space exploration.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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