ISRO reveals date of first Gaganyaan astronaut mission test flight

India's space agency has revealed when it will conduct the first test flight for India's maiden astronaut mission.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said on 27 October 2022 that it will start a series of test flights for the Gaganyaan mission from February 2023.

The crew module, which will carry astronauts into Earth's orbit for three days, will be tested using heavy-lift Chinook helicopters and C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft.

In a major step forward, ISRO has completed the design of the Environment Control System. The system will ensure ambient living conditions for astronauts in the crew service module when they are in space.

At least 17 different tests are planned by ISRO in 2023 before it carries out the unmanned space flight in December next year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the Gaganyaan Mission in his Independence Day address in 2018 with a tentative target of achieving it in 2022, when the country completed 75 years of freedom from colonial rule.

However, the Covid pandemic led to several delays and the first Indian astronauts are likely to undertake their maiden spaceflight by the end of 2024 or early 2025.

(With PTI inputs)