Why in News
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced a record mission cadence of 27 space missions for FY 2026–27 — the most ambitious annual schedule in India’s space history. Four missions are dedicated to the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, with Gaganyaan-1 (uncrewed, carrying the Vyommitra half-humanoid robot) scheduled for H2 2026 and the first crewed Indian spaceflight planned for Q1 2027.
Gaganyaan Programme — Mission Sequence
| Mission | Type | Planned | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaganyaan-1 | Uncrewed (with Vyommitra) | H2 2026 | Half-humanoid robot; validates life-support systems |
| Gaganyaan-2 | Uncrewed | 2026 | Further systems validation |
| Gaganyaan-3 | Uncrewed | 2026–27 | Final pre-crewed rehearsal |
| Gaganyaan-H1 | Crewed | Q1 2027 | India’s first human spaceflight |
Gaganyaan — Technical Overview
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Launch vehicle | LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3; formerly GSLV Mk III) |
| Crew module | Orbital crew module — pressurised, reusable |
| Service module | Propulsion + power module |
| Mission duration | 3 days in Low Earth Orbit (~400 km) |
| Crew capacity | 3 astronauts |
| Recovery | Arabian Sea (Indian Navy responsible for recovery) |
| Abort system | Crew Escape System (CES) — tested in test vehicle mission TV-D1 (Oct 2023) |
Selected Gaganyaan Astronauts
All four selected astronauts are Indian Air Force (IAF) Test Pilots:
| Astronaut | Background |
|---|---|
| Group Capt. Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair | IAF test pilot; trained at Russian GCTC |
| Group Capt. Ajit Krishnan | IAF test pilot; GCTC, Moscow |
| Group Capt. Angad Pratap | IAF test pilot; GCTC, Moscow |
| Wing Cdr. Shubhanshu Shukla | IAF test pilot; also assigned to AXIOM-4 ISS mission (SpaceX) |
Shubhanshu Shukla is additionally assigned to the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station — making him India’s first astronaut to visit the ISS under a private commercial mission.
Vyommitra — ISRO’s Half-Humanoid Robot
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Vyommitra (Sanskrit: Vyom = Space + Mitra = Friend) |
| Type | Half-humanoid (upper body only, no legs) |
| Developer | ISRO + Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) |
| Purpose | Monitor cabin parameters, simulate crew activities, interact with life-support panel |
| Capabilities | Recognise astronauts, respond to questions, perform switch panel operations, monitor environmental parameters (O₂, CO₂, temperature, humidity) |
| Mission | Gaganyaan-1 (first uncrewed orbital mission) |
Other Key ISRO Missions FY 2026–27 (Non-Gaganyaan)
| Mission | Type | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Chandrayaan-4 | Lunar sample return | India’s first lunar sample return mission; two-launch architecture |
| Venus Orbiter Mission (Shukrayaan-1) | Planetary | India’s first Venus mission |
| NISAR (with NASA) | Earth observation | Dual-frequency SAR satellite; joint India-US mission |
| SPADEX follow-on | Space docking | Technology demonstration for future missions |
| Commercial launches | PSLV/LVM3 rideshare | Revenue-generating launches for global clients |
India’s Human Spaceflight Ambitions — Broader Context
| Milestone | Year |
|---|---|
| Rakesh Sharma — First Indian in space (Soviet Salyut-7) | 1984 |
| Kalpana Chawla — Indian-origin NASA astronaut (Columbia, STS-87) | 1997 |
| Sunita Williams — Indian-origin NASA astronaut (multiple ISS missions) | 2006–2024 |
| Gaganyaan Programme announced | 2018 |
| HLVM3 (Human-rated LVM3) engine tests | 2021–2024 |
| Crew Escape System test (TV-D1) | October 2023 |
| Shubhanshu Shukla / Axiom-4 ISS mission | 2025 |
| Gaganyaan-1 (uncrewed) | H2 2026 |
| Gaganyaan crewed (first) | Q1 2027 |
After Gaganyaan, India plans to establish the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) by 2035 and attempt a crewed lunar mission by 2040.
UPSC Relevance
| Paper | Angle |
|---|---|
| GS3 — Science & Technology | Human spaceflight, ISRO missions, space technology indigenisation |
| GS3 — Economy | Space economy, private sector in space, ISRO commercialisation |
| GS2 — Governance | IN-SPACe, NSIL, space policy framework, ISRO-NASA collaboration |
Mains Keywords: Gaganyaan, ISRO 27 missions, Vyommitra, LVM3, Crew Escape System, Axiom-4, Shubhanshu Shukla, Bharatiya Antariksh Station, Chandrayaan-4, Venus Orbiter Mission, NISAR, IN-SPACe
Prelims Facts Corner
| Item | Fact |
|---|---|
| ISRO missions FY27 | 27 total; 4 Gaganyaan missions |
| Gaganyaan-1 | Uncrewed; Vyommitra; H2 2026 |
| Gaganyaan crewed (H1) | Q1 2027; 3 astronauts; 3 days LEO |
| Launch vehicle | LVM3 (formerly GSLV Mk III) |
| Gaganyaan astronauts | 4 IAF test pilots |
| Shubhanshu Shukla | Also assigned to Axiom-4 ISS mission |
| Vyommitra | ISRO half-humanoid; monitors life support; Gaganyaan-1 |
| Recovery location | Arabian Sea (Indian Navy) |
| Crew Escape System test | TV-D1; October 2023 |
| Post-Gaganyaan plan | Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035; crewed Moon by 2040 |
