Key Takeaways
- India targets early 2026 for uncrewed Gaganyaan launch (G1 mission).
- Crewed Gaganyaan mission (H1) scheduled for 2027.
- Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla confirms systems are being revised based on his ISS experience.
- Formal crew training for the mission will begin soon.
India’s first astronaut to live on the International Space Station, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, has shared crucial updates on the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program. Speaking at the India International Space Conclave 2025 in New Delhi, he outlined the mission’s timeline and India’s broader space vision.
Mission Timeline and System Updates
Shukla confirmed that India is targeting early next year for the G1 uncrewed launch, followed by the H1 crewed launch in 2027. He emphasized that Gaganyaan is a developmental program where his space station experiences are serving as a template for improvement.
“Gaganyaan is a developmental program, and since my return, the experiences are being used as a template to compare what we were doing earlier with what I experienced,” he said. “All systems are being revised, and the debrief is underway.”
Training and Preparation Status
Addressing questions about crew training, Shukla clarified that preparation is continuous.
“It’s a grey area to say training is not happening. When you debrief and evolve the system, the training is underway. In a way, we have been training for Gaganyaan for years, and a formal process will begin very soon,”
Inspiring the Next Generation
The astronaut shared his profound experience of crossing the Karman line into space, becoming the 634th human in space. He realized the true significance of this achievement when Indian students told him they learned about the ISS through his mission.
“That’s when I realised the meaning of that experience, it inspires young minds to dream.”
India’s Space Vision
Shukla continues to work closely with ISRO on Gaganyaan while engaging in outreach activities. He called for public support in achieving India’s ambitious space goals, including establishing an Indian space station and eventually landing Indians on the Moon.
“These are bold dreams, sending humans to space, establishing an Indian space station, and one day landing Indians on the Moon. To achieve them, all of us must be active participants in making India a developed nation by 2047.”
The India International Space Conclave has brought together government officials, industry leaders, space agencies, and policymakers to discuss expanding India’s space sector and accelerating its growth.
