The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) would send astronauts to space by December 2021, the organisation has revealed.
The initial training for Gaganyaan will be done in India and advanced training maybe in Russia.
The preparations for Gaganyaan Mission are underway and it will prove to be a major turnaround for India’s space agency, ISRO Chief K Sivan said on Friday while addressing a press conference.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his Independence Day speech last year, had announced about the Gaganyaan project, saying that India would send an astronaut to space in the year 2022.
“When India celebrates 75th year of Independence in 2022, and if possible even before, an Indian son or daughter will undertake a manned space mission on board ‘Gaganyaan’ carrying the national flag,” the Prime Minister had stated.
When India successfully launches the mission, it would be the fourth nation to do so after the United States, Russia and China.
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“The initial training for Gaganyaan will be done in India and advanced training maybe in Russia. Women astronauts will be there on the team. That’s our aim,” ISRO chief was quoted as saying. “We will set up six incubation and research centres across the country. We will bring the Indian students to ISRO. Why do the Indian students need to go to NASA?” the ISRO Chief added.
ISRO aims to deploy its biggest rocket, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III), to send the astronauts into space from the Sriharikota space port in Andhra Pradesh.
