Union Minister Jitendra Singh congratulates the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the completion of the Second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02), a crucial milestone for the Gaganyaan mission, India’s first spaceflight programme.
The test was conducted at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, aiming to validate key systems required for the recovery of astronauts during future missions. Singh described the achievement as an important step toward the country’s maiden crewed spaceflight.
Scheduled for launch in 2027, Gaganyaan represents India’s most ambitious scientific programme. The government has allocated approximately ₹10,000 crore for the mission, which is in its final development phase. Before the crew launch, ISRO plans to conduct three uncrewed missions to validate critical technologies and systems.
Earlier this year, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan stated that preparations for the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission were progressing smoothly, describing it as a crucial step in India’s human spaceflight journey, noting that while challenges remain, all major activities are progressing as planned.
India’s human spaceflight has expanded beyond spacecraft development. In April, four selected astronauts began high-altitude studies in Ladakh under the “Mission Mitra” programme, designed to assess performance and reliability in extreme environmental conditions. The initiative involves scientists, engineers, medical experts and psychologists working together to support readiness.
The successful completion of IADT-02 strengthens India’s efforts to join the small coalitions with independent human spaceflight capabilities and marks another significant milestone in the country’s expanding space programme.
