Friday, February 6, 2026
ADVT 
India

'Gaganyaan' To Take Indian Astronaut To Space By 2022, Rakesh Sharma Gives A Thumbs-Up

IANS, 15 Aug, 2018 12:14 PM
    Prior to the actual launch by 2022, the Indian Space Research Organisation will have two unmanned missions and spacecraft will be fired using Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III, Mr Sivan said.
     
     
    Technologies that will help in sending an Indian astronaut to space - like human crew module and environment control and life support system - have already been developed, ISRO chairman K Sivan said today.
     
     
    Prior to the actual launch by 2022, the Indian Space Research Organisation will have two unmanned missions and spacecraft will be fired using Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III, Mr Sivan said.
     
     
    "We have already developed the technology like human crew module, environment control and life support system. Before undertaking the launch, we will have two unmanned missions. We will use GLSV Mark-III for this project," Mr Sivan told.
     
     
    His remarks came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in his Independence Day address that India will attempt a manned mission into space by 2022 on board 'Gaganyaan'.
     
     
    If successful, India would be the fourth nation to achieve that feat.
     
     
    Rakesh Sharma, a former IAF pilot, was the first Indian to travel to space. Mr Sharma was a part of Soviet Union's Soyuz T-11 expedition, launched on April 2, 1984, as part of the Intercosmos programme.
     
     
    Indian-born Kalpana Chawla and Indian-origin Sunita Williams are among the known names to have gone to the space.
     
     
    Ms Chawla was one of the seven crew members who perished in the space shuttle Columbia's disaster during its re-entry to the Earth's atmosphere.
     
     
    In December 2014, he announced India will launch SAARC satellite as a "gift" to its neighbours.
     
     
    The satellite, later rechristened South Asian satellite, was launched in May 2017.
     
     
    K Radhakrishnan, former ISRO chairman under whose leadership the Mangalyaan mission was launched in 2013, termed the announcement of Gaganyaan mission a "turning point" for ISRO.
     
     
    ISRO is known for its space programme, focus on projects that matter to the day-day lives of people.
     
     
    However of late, it has launched missions like Chandrayaan-1 (moon mission) and Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission) that has aroused tremendous interest among people.
     
     
    It will launch Chandrayaan-2, which will land a rover on the moon, next year.
     
     
    The first Indian to venture into space, former Indian Air Force pilot Rakesh Sharma, today gave his thumbs up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plan to have a national space mission by 2022. Rakesh Sharma said the ambitious mission, which plans to send an Indian into space, is "a coming of age" and a "natural corollary" of every space programme.
     
     
    "If we wish to improve our existence on Earth, we need to ensure that future ventures in outer space, ought to work for the greater good of humankind back on Earth" he said, adding that future ventures into outer space are "not, solely, for the benefit of one or another nation."
     
     
    Astronaut Wing Commander (Retd) Rakesh Sharma was a part of Russia's (formerly the USSR) Soyuz T-11 space mission. The expedition was launched on April 2, 1984.
     
     
    Coined 'Gaganyaan', the 2022 space mission, according to ISRO chairman Dr K Sivan, will cost around Rs. 9,000 crore and will run on a "very, very tight schedule".

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Police On His Lookout, Gangster Dilpreet Singh Watched Movies In Chandigarh Cinema

    Police On His Lookout, Gangster Dilpreet Singh Watched Movies In Chandigarh Cinema
    Neighbours told the police that Rupinder, a widow, used to refer to Baba as her husband whenever he visited her at her house in Chandigarh.

    Police On His Lookout, Gangster Dilpreet Singh Watched Movies In Chandigarh Cinema

    Degree Row: Harmanpreet Kaur May Be Demoted From DSP To Constable

    Degree Row: Harmanpreet Kaur May Be Demoted From DSP To Constable
    Harmanpreet Kaur's Graduation Degree Found To Be Fake, Her Qualification Can Now Treated As Class XII

    Degree Row: Harmanpreet Kaur May Be Demoted From DSP To Constable

    Haryana CM Asks Punjab To Make New Chandigarh Its Capital, Leave Chandigarh For Haryana

    Haryana CM Asks Punjab To Make New Chandigarh Its Capital, Leave Chandigarh For Haryana
    Reiterating Haryana's claim on Chandigarh, the Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday asked Punjab to make new Chandigarh its capital, leave Chandigarh to Haryana and co-operate in solving the waters issue by sitting across the table.

    Haryana CM Asks Punjab To Make New Chandigarh Its Capital, Leave Chandigarh For Haryana

    Mace-Wielding 'Yamaraja,' God Of Death, Intercepts Motorists In Bengaluru

    Mace-Wielding 'Yamaraja,' God Of Death, Intercepts Motorists In Bengaluru
    A mace-wielding 'Yamaraja,' God of Death, attired in his traditional golden dress, intercepted motorists near the Town hall in Bengaluru today and warned them he would visit their homes if they flouted traffic rules.

    Mace-Wielding 'Yamaraja,' God Of Death, Intercepts Motorists In Bengaluru

    Gold Bars Worth Rs. 61 Lakh Seized From Chinese Woman In Delhi

    Gold Bars Worth Rs. 61 Lakh Seized From Chinese Woman In Delhi
    The passenger was intercepted after her arrival from Hong Kong on Friday, a statement issued today by the customs said.

    Gold Bars Worth Rs. 61 Lakh Seized From Chinese Woman In Delhi

    Indians Most Stressed Globally On Work, Financial Issues: Survey

    Indians Most Stressed Globally On Work, Financial Issues: Survey
    Stress levels are the highest in the country with 89 per cent of survey respondents claiming they suffer from stress on issues such as finances, work, among others, compared with the global average of 86 per cent.

    Indians Most Stressed Globally On Work, Financial Issues: Survey