Second test vehicle for Gaganyaan mission ready, says ISRO chief

Isro chief S Somanath said the second test vehicle for the Gaganyaan mission is ready and the space agency is waiting for it to be transported to Sriharikota.

"He said the rocket for an uncrewed mission to space is ready. "But the crew module elements are more time-consuming," he added.

Isro chief S Somanath said the second test vehicle for the Gaganyaan mission is ready and the space agency is waiting for it to be transported to Sriharikota.

"It will come next month. In two months' time, I believe everything will be prepared for the next test vehicle mission," said Somanath.

The first test vehicle, a single-stage liquid rocket, carrying the Crew Module (CM) and Crew Escape Systems (CES) was successfully launched on October 21, 2023.

Somanath said 2024 is going to be the year to make preparations for the Gaganyaan mission, which is slated for launch in 2025 to send humans into space. He added that the goal is to hold unmanned missions this year.

He said the rocket for an uncrewed mission to space is ready. "But the crew module elements are more time-consuming. So that work is going on," he added.