National, Feb 6: India’s ambitious human spaceflight programme is entering a crucial phase, with the Indian Space Research Organisation targeting the Gaganyaan mission for 2027 and planning to advance towards crewed lunar missions under Chandrayaan-4 and Chandrayaan-5 by 2028, ISRO chairman V. Narayanan has said.
Outlining the roadmap, Narayanan said the Gaganyaan mission would be preceded by three uncrewed flights to validate systems and ensure astronaut safety before India sends humans into space. He said preparations for these missions are progressing steadily, though specific launch dates for the uncrewed flights are yet to be finalised.
Narayanan confirmed that both Chandrayaan-4 and Chandrayaan-5 have already received formal approval and are envisioned as crewed missions to the Moon. He said the programmes are moving ahead as planned and, if timelines are maintained, the missions could be realised by 2028, with all preparatory activities currently aligned with target schedules.
A major thrust area for ISRO, he noted, is the development of reusable launch vehicle technology, which is expected to significantly reduce the cost of access to space. Narayanan said the agency is presently working on experimental programmes in this domain as part of its long-term strategy to make space missions more economical.
Addressing comparisons with global private players such as SpaceX, the ISRO chief said India’s space programme is not driven by competition but by national objectives. He stressed that ISRO’s efforts are focused on serving the country’s needs and strengthening indigenous capabilities, adding that mutual respect among space-faring entities comes from demonstrated strength.
Narayanan also highlighted the economic dimension of India’s space ambitions, stating that ISRO is working towards increasing the country’s share in the global space economy from the current 2 per cent to 8 per cent. He said the space programme continues to prioritise applications that benefit citizens while also expanding India’s commercial and technological footprint.
Responding to questions on challenges and delays, Narayanan said ISRO views ongoing technical reviews as part of a continuous learning process rather than setbacks. He added that teams are closely analysing data from recent PSLV missions to refine systems and strengthen future mission readiness.
