Indian Space Research Organization chief, Kailasavadivoo Sivan, has confirmed that the space agency is gearing up for the launch of Gangayaan – country’s first-ever human space mission. The details of the launch were shared by the Minister of State for Atomic Energy and Space, Jitendra Singh at a press conference at Shastri Bhawan.
Three Indians astronauts are expected to be a part of the mission which will last for about 5-7 days. GSLV Mk III, the three-stage heavy-lift launch vehicle will be used for the launch since it has the payload capacity. This ambitious mission likely to be completed by 2020. The total cost of the mission is expected to cost less than Rs. 10,000 crores.
Mr Singh added that ‘the mission will make India the fourth nation in the world to launch a human spaceflight mission’ after Russia, China and the United States.
ISRO chief, Kailasavadivoo Sivan also stated that India has lined 19 missions till March 2019. Work on developing technology to send humans to space was started back in 2004 but was not on the ‘priority list’.
.@isro has lined up 19 missions till March, 2019, Chairperson Kailasavadivoo Sivan explains the missions#ISRO pic.twitter.com/tkoOB7EDvp
— PIB India (@PIB_India) August 28, 2018
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced this ambitious project during his Independence Day speech.
