The Department of Space provided a comprehensive progress update on India's Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission through a parliamentary question reply. Development activities have advanced significantly with the Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3) completing development and ground testing of all propulsion stages and structures. The Orbital Module has seen substantial progress with propulsion systems for both Crew Module and Service Module developed, tested, and qualified, while the Engineering model for Environmental Control & Life Support System (ECLSS) has been realized. Additional systems including deceleration system, Crew Module Up-righting System, Thermal Protection System, and end-to-end avionics have been developed and tested.
The Crew Escape System has seen five types of motors developed and static tested, with all CES structures realized and qualified. Significant infrastructure has been established including Orbital Module Preparation Facility, Gaganyaan Control Centre, Gaganyaan Control facility, Crew training facility, and modifications to the Second Launch pad. Test missions have progressed with the first Test Vehicle mission (TV-D1) successfully completing in-flight validation of Crew Escape System, and both Integrated Air Drop Tests (IADT-01 and IADT-02) with simulated Crew Module successfully validating the deceleration system. Activities are currently progressing toward the TV-D2 mission.
Flight operations and communication networks have been configured with ground network finalized, IDRSS-1 feeder stations and terrestrial links established, and MoUs signed with other space agencies for cross supports. Crew recovery operations have finalized recovery assets and worked out recovery plans. The astronaut training program has advanced with Gaganyatris completing generic training at Glavkosmos, Russia, and currently undergoing Gaganyaan mission-specific training at the Astronaut Training facility in Bengaluru.
The mission timeline targets the first crewed mission in 2027, with operationalization of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) targeted by 2035. ISRO has configured the space station to comprise five modules, with government approval granted for development and launch of the first module (BAS-01). System engineering and technology development activities for various subsystems are progressing across ISRO Centers/Units. Critical technologies for the human space program including flight suit, view port, crew seat, and docking technology have been identified and received government approval for indigenous development, with design and development of proto hardware currently in progress.