GAGANYAAN: Astronauts on mission likely to be pilots, crew module design to be finalised soon

ISRO Chairman K Sivan has disclosed the first unmanned mission for Gaganyaan planned to be launched by India is scheduled for December 2020. It will be followed by the second unmanned mission in July 2021 and the final manned mission by December 2021. The design for the crew module and crew service module for Gaganyaan is in the finalisation process. ISRO has already established a Human Space Flight Centre for Gaganyaan project. Prime minister Narendra Modi had announced the project envisaging sending three humans to space by 2022.The astronauts on the human space mission ‘Gaganyaan’ will mostly be pilots, hinted Indian Space Research Organisation scientists Friday.”We are looking for people with sufficient flying experience,” said an ISRO scientist requesting anonymity. ISRO Chairman K Sivan said the Indian Air Force and other agencies will play a major role during the selection of astronauts for the human space mission project. Another scientist said the Defence Research and Development Organisation too will play a major role in this endeavour. Addressing a press conference here, Sivan said the first unmanned mission for ‘Gaganyaan’ has been planned for December 2020, the second unmanned mission for July 2021 and the final manned mission by December 2021.Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the ‘Gaganyaan’ project envisaging sending three humans to space