Why this matters now
Gaganyaan is tested for: announced PM Modi 15 Aug 2018 Red Fort speech; cabinet approved Dec 2018 (~Rs 9,023 crore); target altitude 400 km LEO, 3 days, 3 astronauts; launcher LVM3 / HRLV (Human Rated Launch Vehicle); Crew Module + Service Module + Crew Escape System; 4 IAF astronauts unveiled 27 Feb 2024 at VSSC by PM Modi: Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Angad Pratap, Ajit Krishnan, Shubhanshu Shukla; training Russia + India; TV-D1 Crew Escape Test 21 Oct 2023 SHAR — success; Vyommitra humanoid robot for uncrewed precursor; G1 uncrewed Dec 2024 (revised 2025); G2 + G3 uncrewed; crewed G4 mission 2027; BAS Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035; Indian on Moon by 2040.
Four IAF astronauts
| Astronaut | Background |
|---|---|
| Gp Capt Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair | From Kerala. Cat-A flying instructor; Su-30 MKI. Senior astronaut. |
| Gp Capt Ajit Krishnan | From Chennai. Cat-A instructor; flight test pilot. Fluent in 6 languages. |
| Gp Capt Angad Pratap | From Prayagraj. Cat-A instructor; flight test pilot. |
| Wg Cdr / Gp Capt Shubhanshu Shukla | From Lucknow. Combat leader fighter pilot. Selected for ISRO-NASA Axiom-4 ISS mission June 2025 — first Indian on ISS, 2nd Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma 1984. |
All four trained at Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (Russia) 2020-21 + Astronaut Training Facility Bengaluru.
TV-D1 Crew Escape Test
21 October 2023, 10:00 IST from SHAR FLP. Test Vehicle Demonstration 1.
- Single-stage L40-derived TV launched a crew-module mock-up + Crew Escape System (CES).
- Mid-air abort triggered at Mach 1.2 (~11.7 km altitude).
- CES separated, parachute deployed, splashdown in Bay of Bengal ~10 km from coast. Recovered by Indian Navy.
- Initial launch attempt 8:30 IST aborted by engine temperature anomaly; restarted at 10:00 IST.
- Validated CES function under abort conditions.
Mission roadmap
| Mission | Year | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| TV-D1 Crew Escape | 21 Oct 2023 | ✔ Success |
| TV-D2 (high-altitude abort) | 2024-25 | Planned |
| G1 (uncrewed orbital) | 2025 | With Vyommitra humanoid + dummy crew module |
| G2 (uncrewed) | 2026 | Vyommitra orbital validation. |
| G3 (uncrewed final) | 2026-27 | Last uncrewed. |
| G4 (crewed) | 2027 | 3 astronauts, 3 days, 400 km LEO. |
| BAS Bharatiya Antariksh Station | 2035 | 5-module first habitat module by 2028. |
| Indian on Moon | 2040 | Crewed lunar mission. |
UPSC angle
Know GAGANYAAN — INDIA’S FIRST CREWED SPACEFLIGHT 3 astronauts 3 days 400 km LEO; PM MODI announced 15 AUG 2018 Red Fort; Cabinet Dec 2018 ~Rs 9023 crore; launcher LVM3 / HRLV Human Rated Launch Vehicle; Crew Module + Service Module + Crew Escape System; 4 IAF ASTRONAUTS UNVEILED 27 FEB 2024 VSSC PM Modi: Gp Capt PRASHANTH BALAKRISHNAN NAIR (Kerala, Su-30) + Gp Capt AJIT KRISHNAN (Chennai 6 languages) + Gp Capt ANGAD PRATAP (Prayagraj) + Wg Cdr/Gp Capt SHUBHANSHU SHUKLA (Lucknow, SELECTED ISRO-NASA AXIOM-4 ISS JUNE 2025 first Indian on ISS, 2nd Indian in space after RAKESH SHARMA 1984 Soyuz T-11); trained YURI GAGARIN COSMONAUT TRAINING CENTER Russia 2020-21 + Astronaut Training Facility Bengaluru; TV-D1 CREW ESCAPE TEST 21 OCT 2023 SHAR FLP single-stage L40-derived; mid-air abort Mach 1.2 ~11.7 km; CES separated + parachute + Bay of Bengal splashdown ~10 km; Initial 8:30 IST aborted engine temp anomaly restarted 10:00 IST; VYOMMITRA HUMANOID ROBOT for uncrewed precursor; G1 uncrewed 2025 + G2 + G3; CREWED G4 MISSION TARGETED 2027; BAS BHARATIYA ANTARIKSH STATION by 2035 first habitat module by 2028; INDIAN ON MOON BY 2040.
Frequently asked questions
When is the first Gaganyaan crewed launch?
Targeted for 2027 (G4 mission). Preceded by uncrewed G1, G2 + G3 missions and TV-D1 (Oct 2023, success) + TV-D2 abort tests.
Who are the Gaganyaan astronauts?
Four IAF officers unveiled by PM Modi on 27 February 2024 at VSSC: Gp Capt Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair (Kerala), Gp Capt Ajit Krishnan (Chennai), Gp Capt Angad Pratap (Prayagraj) + Wg Cdr/Gp Capt Shubhanshu Shukla (Lucknow). Shukla was later selected for the Axiom-4 ISS mission (2025).
What happened in TV-D1?
21 October 2023 at SHAR — a single-stage test vehicle launched a crew-module mock-up. At Mach 1.2 (~11.7 km altitude) the Crew Escape System triggered, separated, deployed parachutes + splashed down in Bay of Bengal. Successfully validated abort.
What comes after Gaganyaan?
Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) — India’s own space station by 2035, with the first habitat module by 2028. Indian on Moon by 2040.