Ahead of Gaganyaan’s first Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1), Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to assess progress of the mission and to outline the future of India’s space exploration endeavours.
According to the Prime Ministers Office (PMO), the Department of Space presented a comprehensive overview of the Gaganyaan Mission, including various technologies developed so far, such as human-rated launch vehicles and system qualification.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs a high-level meeting to assess the progress of the Gaganyaan Mission and to outline the future of India’s space exploration endeavours, in New Delhi on October 17, 2023. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath (2nd from left) was among those present.
According to the PMO: “It was noted that around 20 major tests, including 3 uncrewed missions of the Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3), are planned. First demonstration flight of the Crew Escape System Test Vehicle is scheduled on October 21. The meeting evaluated the mission’s readiness, affirming its launch in 2025.”
Mr Modi directed that India should now aim for new and ambitious goals, including setting up ‘Bharatiya Antariksha Station’ (Indian Space Station) by 2035 and sending an Indian to the moon by 2040.
“To realise this vision, the Department of Space will develop a roadmap for moon exploration. This will encompass a series of Chandrayaan missions, the development of a Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), construction of a new launch pad, setting up human-centric laboratories and associated technologies,” the PMO added.
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Mr Modi called upon Indian scientists to work towards interplanetary missions that would include a Venus Orbiter Mission and a Mars Lander.
Where can you watch TV-D1 launch
Gaganyaan’s first Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1), which demonstrates the performance of the Crew Escape System, will take place at 8 a.m. on October 21.
Gaganyaan mission’s Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) will take place at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 8 am on October 21, 2023. | Photo Credit: ISRO
“The test is scheduled from the first launch pad at SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota,” ISRO posted on X.
On October 16, ISRO had stated that the TV-D1 test flight is scheduled between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. on October 21.
The space agency said that the flight test will be a short-duration mission, and visibility from the Launch View Gallery (LVG) will be limited.
Students and the public can witness the launch from LVG at SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota, by registering using this link. Registration will commence on October 17, at 6 p.m.
SDSC-SHAR does not charge a fee to visitors for entry to the Launch View Gallery at Sriharikota.
