ISRO Gaganyaan Crewed Mission Set for January 2027: India's First Astronauts to Reach Space

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that India's first crewed space mission, Gaganyaan, will launch in January 2027 from Sriharikota, carrying three Indian astronauts to low Earth orbit.

The crew will spend 7 days in orbit at an altitude of 400km, conducting 12 microgravity experiments developed by Indian research institutions. The mission uses the Human-Rated Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (HLVM3) with an upgraded crew escape system. The astronaut trio includes Group Captain Prasanth Nair (mission commander), Group Captain Ajit Krishnan (pilot), and Group Captain Angad Pratap (mission specialist). All three completed advanced training at Russia's Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre and ISRO's Human Space Flight Centre in Bengaluru.

"Gaganyaan is not just a space mission — it's India's statement of technological sovereignty. When our astronauts look at Earth from space, every Indian will look up with pride."

— S. Somanath, ISRO Chairman

ISRO has completed all critical tests including pad abort test, crew module atmospheric re-entry, and the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System demonstration. The uncrewed G1 and G2 test flights have validated the life support and orbital systems. The mission cost of ₹10,000 crore is significantly lower than comparable programs. ISRO's cost-effective approach to space exploration has become a global benchmark, with NASA and ESA seeking partnerships for future missions. Post-Gaganyaan, ISRO plans to establish an Indian space station (Bharatiya Antariksha Station) by 2035 and a crewed lunar mission by 2040 as part of India's Vision 2047 space program.