India's highly anticipated Gaganyaan mission, the country’s first crewed spaceflight program, has been officially delayed, with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) now targeting early 2027 for its maiden human launch. Originally slated for 2024 and later revised to 2025, the mission has seen multiple timeline adjustments due to technical complexities, safety concerns, and the need for rigorous testing.
The Gaganyaan program is a strategic leap in India’s space journey. It aims to send a crew of Indian astronauts—referred to as vyomanauts—into low Earth orbit (LEO) for a mission lasting up to three days. The program also includes the safe return of the crew to Indian waters. As per ISRO’s updated roadmap, three uncrewed missions will precede the final human mission. These include the TV-D2 (Test Vehicle Demonstration-2) scheduled for late 2025 and two orbital uncrewed flights throughout 2026.
One of these test missions will carry the Vyommitra robot, a half-humanoid female-looking machine designed to mimic human physiological responses to space. It will play a crucial role in evaluating crew module safety and environmental conditions. This testing phase is integral to meeting the program's core objective: zero-compromise on astronaut safety.
ISRO Chief S. Somanath noted that although the delays are unfortunate, they reflect India’s commitment to ensuring mission success and global safety standards. The program is estimated to cost ₹9,023 crore (approximately $1.1 billion USD), making it one of India’s most expensive scientific ventures.
The mission also carries broader geopolitical and strategic importance. Once completed, India would become only the fourth nation—after the US, Russia, and China—to independently send humans into space. Beyond the Gaganyaan mission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid out a vision for India’s space future, including sending an astronaut to the Moon by 2040 and establishing a national space station by 2035.
International collaborations, particularly with the US, have strengthened India’s capabilities. Companies like Axiom Space and NASA are contributing technical insight, and astronaut training is partially being conducted in Russia and France.
Despite the delay, public excitement and national pride remain high, with Gaganyaan seen not just as a scientific mission, but as a symbol of India’s growing global stature in advanced technology and innovation.