India’s ambitious Gaganyaan mission is inching closer to reality, with 90% of the work now complete, according to ISRO Chairman Dr. S. Somanath. The milestone marks a major leap forward in India’s space programme, as preparations accelerate to send the country’s first astronauts into low Earth orbit by 2027. Speaking to DD News, Somanath said the Gaganyaan mission represents one of the most complex operations in India’s space history.

The mission will demonstrate ISRO’s ability to carry humans safely into space using an entirely indigenous launch system. Before the manned trip, the agency will conduct three uncrewed test flights to evaluate critical technologies such as life-support systems, crew module re-entry, and emergency escape mechanisms. Announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Gaganyaan project is seen as a landmark in India’s pursuit of self-reliance in human space exploration.

Once launched, it will position India alongside the United States, Russia, and China—the only nations to have sent astronauts into space using their own technology. The mission embodies India’s aspiration to not just explore space, but to occupy a leadership role in future space science advancements.

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Astronaut training for the mission is currently underway in Bengaluru, where crew members are undergoing advanced simulation exercises and physical conditioning. ISRO engineers are simultaneously working on strengthening the crew module’s safety systems to handle multiple emergency scenarios during launch and re-entry.

Over the next two years, ISRO will carry out a series of unmanned test missions designed to prove the system’s reliability and precision. Officials say these trials will mark the final steps before India takes its historic leap into human spaceflight — a moment that could define the nation’s role in global space exploration for decades to come.

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