India's ambitious human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, has achieved significant progress across multiple mission-critical areas, with major hardware, infrastructure, testing and astronaut training activities nearing completion. The government informed the Lok Sabha that preparations are advancing steadily for the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission (G1), while several indigenous technologies required for human spaceflight have either been developed or are in the final stages of qualification.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Union Minister of State for the Prime Minister's Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, outlined the extensive development work completed under the Gaganyaan programme.
One of the biggest achievements has been the development of the Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3). According to the minister, the development and ground testing of all propulsion stages and structural components of the launch vehicle have been successfully completed, paving the way for future crewed missions.
The Orbital Module, comprising the Crew Module and Service Module, has also witnessed substantial progress. Propulsion systems for both modules have been developed, tested and qualified. ISRO has realized the engineering model of the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS), one of the most crucial technologies for sustaining astronauts in space. In addition, the deceleration system, Crew Module Uprighting System, Thermal Protection System and end-to-end avionics have all been successfully developed and tested.
The Crew Escape System (CES), designed to safely carry astronauts away from the launch vehicle in case of an emergency, has also crossed important milestones. Five different types of escape motors have been developed and successfully undergone static testing, while all associated structural components have been realized and qualified.
To support human spaceflight operations, ISRO has established critical infrastructure, including the Orbital Module Preparation Facility, Gaganyaan Control Centre, Gaganyaan Control Facility, Crew Training Facility, and modifications to the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC SHAR).
The programme has also made notable progress in mission validation. The first Test Vehicle mission (TV-D1), which demonstrated the in-flight performance of the Crew Escape System, was completed successfully. Two Integrated Air Drop Tests (IADT-01 and IADT-02), conducted using a simulated Crew Module to validate the deceleration system, also met their objectives. Preparations for the second test vehicle mission (TV-D2) are now at an advanced stage.
On the operational front, ISRO has finalized the flight operations and communication network. Ground network configurations have been established, feeder stations and terrestrial links for the Indian Data Relay Satellite System (IDRSS-1) are in place, and memorandums of understanding have been signed with international space agencies to provide cross-support during missions.
Crew recovery planning has also been completed, with recovery assets identified and operational plans finalized for safely retrieving astronauts after splashdown.
The minister informed Parliament that astronaut training has progressed significantly. The selected Gaganyatris have completed their generic training at Glavkosmos in Russia and are currently undergoing mission-specific training at the Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru.
Preparations for the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission (G1) are entering their final phase. All stages of the HLVM3 rocket—including the HS200, L110 and C32 stages—as well as the Crew Escape System motors are ready. The Crew Module and Service Module systems have been realized, while assembly, integration and testing activities are nearing completion. Integrated mission simulations are also underway.
The Gaganyaan missions will be launched from the Second Launch Pad at SDSC SHAR. To support crewed launches, ISRO has developed the Orbital Module Preparation Facility for integrating and testing the Crew Module, Service Module and Crew Escape System. The Second Vehicle Assembly Building has been modified to accommodate new integration and checkout requirements. Additional facilities, including upgraded checkout systems, a Crew Access Arm, bubble lift and an emergency zip-line evacuation system, have also been installed at the launch pad.
A major technological focus of the programme is the indigenous Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS), described as a "system of systems" that maintains temperature, humidity, pressure and carbon dioxide levels inside the Crew Module throughout the mission. ISRO is currently conducting development tests of the ECLSS, while a reduced version of the system is scheduled for flight demonstration during the upcoming uncrewed Gaganyaan missions.
The government stated that alongside mission preparation, numerous ground qualification tests are continuing to validate the newly developed systems. The successful completion of these activities is expected to pave the way for India's first human spaceflight mission, marking a major milestone in the country's space exploration programme.
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