RNS: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for a momentous milestone in India’s space endeavours as it prepares to conduct its first unmanned test flight on October 21, marking a significant step toward the much-anticipated Gaganyaan human space mission slated for 2024.
Announcing the eagerly awaited event, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Space, revealed that the launch of the “Gaganyaan” Test Vehicle Space flight, also known as “Gaganyaan” Test Vehicle Development flight (TV-D1), is scheduled for the 21st of October.
Dr Singh emphasized that this mission holds paramount importance as it will test the effectiveness of the Crew Escape System, a critical component of the “Gaganyaan” mission, ultimately paving the way for both unmanned and manned missions to the cosmos by 2024.
The announcement came during Dr Singh’s address at a felicitation ceremony in New Delhi, where he lauded the dedication and contributions of ISRO scientists associated with the successful Chandrayaan Mission.
Dr Singh elaborated that the test flight will be executed at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, with the Crew Module carrying astronauts bound for the Gaganyaan mission to outer space.
Underlining the significance of the impending test, Dr Singh explained that its success would set the stage for the first unmanned “Gaganyaan” mission and, ultimately, the historic manned mission to low Earth orbit.
Furthermore, he revealed that before the monumental manned “Gaganyaan” mission, a test flight is scheduled for the next year, featuring “Vyommitra,” the female robot astronaut.
Dr. Singh praised ISRO’s commitment to gender diversity and emphasized the critical role that women scientists play in spearheading various efforts in India’s space research programs.
ISRO is the epitome of India’s “Naari Shakti” (Women Power), underscoring the organization’s achievements and contributions in the field of space exploration, the minister said.
