On Friday, ISRO announced a major milestone in its Gaganyaan mission, marking significant progress toward India’s first human spaceflight. The space agency successfully transported the first solid motor segment from the production facility to the launch complex. This achievement paves the way for the upcoming HLVM3 G1 flight, a crucial part of the Gaganyaan program.
This announcement closely follows successful “well deck” recovery trials conducted with the Indian Navy on December 6. The well deck on a naval vessel can be filled with water to allow boats, landing crafts, or recovered spacecraft to dock directly inside the ship. These trials validated the procedures for safely recovering the Gaganyaan spacecraft after it returns from orbit.
ISRO shared on the social media platform X that a major milestone has been reached in the Gaganyaan Programme. The first solid motor segment has been transported from the production plant to the launch complex, marking a crucial step towards the HLVM3 G1 flight and bringing India closer to its human spaceflight aspirations.
The Gaganyaan mission, approved by the Union Cabinet, is India’s ambitious plan to send a three-person crew into space. The mission aims to place the crew in an orbit 400 km above Earth for a three-day journey. Following their mission, the crew will safely return to Earth, landing in Indian waters.
This latest milestone reflects ISRO’s steady progress and dedication to making India a leading force in human space exploration. With both the delivery of the solid motor segment and successful recovery trials, the groundwork is being laid for the Gaganyaan mission’s eventual launch. These achievements demonstrate the synergy between ISRO and the Indian Navy and highlight India’s capability to develop and execute complex space operations.
