Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has set an ambitious target to launch seven missions, including its first uncrewed flight under the Gaganyaan programme, by March 2026, Chairman and Department of Space Secretary V. Narayanan announced on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters after the successful launch of communication satellite CMS-03 aboard the LVM3-M05 rocket from Sriharikota, Narayanan said the Gaganyaan programme was in its advanced stages, with all hardware already at the launch site and integration in progress.
“Our Gaganyaan programme is progressing well. We have planned three uncrewed missions before the crewed flight. The first uncrewed mission, the ‘G1 Mission,’ will be launched before the end of the current financial year,” Narayanan said.
He noted that the seven missions scheduled before March 2026 form part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to see ISRO achieve 50 rocket launches over the next five years.
Outlining the upcoming missions, Narayanan said another LVM3 rocket launch carrying a commercial communication satellite for an international client would follow the CMS-03 mission. In addition, ISRO has planned three PSLV launches, including one for a NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) customer satellite.
ISRO will also undertake a technology development mission, PSLV-N1, before the end of the financial year, along with a GSLV-F17 rocket mission slated for launch before March 2026.
Acknowledging the scale of the undertaking, Narayanan said, “It is not an easy job — it is a tough task. But Team ISRO is fully geared up to meet the Prime Minister’s vision and accomplish these activities in the coming months.”
With PTI inputs