First manned space mission by 2022: PM

Project will be launched using Isro capabilities

India will launch its first manned space mission by 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced this on Wednesday during the course of his Independence Day speech. Once achieved, India could become the fourth nation to do so after the United States, Russia and China.

The mission named “Gaganyaan,” Mr Modi said, would be launched using Indian Space Research Organisation ( Isro’s) own capabilities.

“Our country has been making a lot of progress in the area of space ( science). When India celebrates its 75th Independence Day, or even before that, an Indian son or daughter will undertake a manned space mission on board “Gaganyaan”, carrying the national flag,” he said.

The Prime Minister said with the launch of the Mangalyaan ( Mars Orbiter Mission), space scientists displayed India’s prowess in the field.

Chandrayaan- 1 was India’s first lunar probe. It was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation in October 2008 and operated till August 2009, while the Mangalyaan is a space probe orbiting Mars since September 24, 2014.

Reacting to the Prime Minister’s call, Isro chairman K. Sivan told agencies that technologies that

would help in sending an Indian astronaut to space - like the human crew module and the environment control and life support system — have already been developed.

Prior to the actual launch by 2022, the Isro will have two unmanned missions, and the spacecraft will be fired using the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark- III, he said.

“We have already developed the technology like human crew module and 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 agencies.

Rakesh Sharma, a former IAF pilot, was the first Indian to travel to space. Sharma was a part of the 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 space.