ISRO has commenced the assembly of the human-rated Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) for the Gaganyaan programme’s first uncrewed mission, marking a pivotal step in India’s journey toward human spaceflight. This development follows rigorous testing and validation processes to ensure the safety and reliability of the rocket, which is a critical component of the nation’s ambitious human spaceflight programme. Launched in 2018, the Gaganyaan programme aims to send Indian astronauts, or Gagannauts, into low Earth orbit aboard an indigenously developed spacecraft. The objectives include demonstrating human spaceflight capabilities while fostering advancements in science, technology, and industry. The first crewed mission is tentatively scheduled for late 2025, preceded by two uncrewed test missions to validate key systems.
The human-rated LVM3 rocket is an evolved version of the GSLV Mk-III, and serves as the launch vehicle for these missions. It has been specifically enhanced with redundancies, robust structural modifications, and a crew escape system to meet the stringent requirements of human spaceflight.The upcoming uncrewed mission, officially referred to as Gaganyaan-1, is scheduled for early 2025, with a tentative launch date set for February 2025. This mission is critical for testing the spacecraft’s systems, including life-support mechanisms, navigation, and re-entry capabilities. A human-rated test dummy equipped with sensors will be aboard to simulate crew conditions and gather data on factors such as vibrations, G-forces, and thermal loads. Additionally, the mission will involve testing the spacecraft’s software for autonomous operations, ensuring that it can handle contingencies during flight and re-entry without manual intervention.
"The success of this mission is essential for validating safety systems, demonstrating reliability, and instilling confidence in stakeholders, including the scientific community, government, and public, about India’s readiness for human spaceflight. Collaboration with international space agencies has been instrumental in training astronauts and refining mission parameters, with countries like Russia providing insights into human spaceflight protocols and safety standards. The human-rated LVM3 incorporates several advancements over its predecessor, including structural reinforcements to handle additional stresses, enhanced propulsion systems to ensure consistent performance, and comprehensive testing protocols. For instance, ISRO has conducted over 20 successful static fire tests of the Crew Escape System and integrated spacecraft systems to date. The spacecraft also includes advanced heat shielding to withstand extreme temperatures during re-entry, ensuring the safety of its future occupants," said Srimathy Kesan, founder and CEO of Space Kidz India, which is into design, fabrication and launch of small satellites, spacecraft and ground systems
The programme also features a dedicated recovery team trained to retrieve the crew module safely after splashdown, a critical step in the mission’s operational success. "By achieving human spaceflight capabilities, India is poised to contribute more significantly to international space endeavors, such as deep-space exploration, interplanetary missions, and global space station initiatives. The programme also underscores the potential for cost-effective space solutions, leveraging India’s reputation for achieving ambitious goals on limited budgets, which could make advanced space technologies accessible to more countries," added Kesan.
The LVM3 is India's most powerful launch vehicle and has a payload capacity of 4 metric tonnes to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), which is, however, significantly lower than that of SpaceX's Falcon 9. The Falcon 9 can carry payloads of up to 8.3 tonnes to GTO and 22 tonnes to low-earth orbit (LEO). With the assembly of the human-rated LVM3 underway, ISRO is one step closer to realising the dream of sending Indians into space. India's historic human spaceflight mission hinges on the LVM3's ability to propel the crew capsule into orbit. The LVM3 can carry heavier probes and rovers, opening doors to lunar and interplanetary missions that quench humanity's thirst for knowledge about the universe. At the same time, LVM3's prowess can generate significant revenue for the Indian space programme by offering reliable and cost-effective launch services to international clients.
Historically, the Apollo programme of the United States stands as a cornerstone of human spaceflight. The Apollo rockets, specifically the Saturn V, carried astronauts to the Moon, setting a benchmark for innovation and exploration. These missions not only advanced scientific knowledge but also fostered global inspiration and collaboration in the space domain. Similarly, Russia’s Soyuz programme has maintained a legacy of reliability, supporting missions to the International Space Station (ISS) and pioneering human spaceflight capabilities during the Space Race. On the other hand, China has emerged as a formidable spacefaring nation, with its Shenzhou spacecraft and Long March rockets enabling crewed missions to low Earth orbit and the construction of the Tiangong space station.
