Cabinet okays ‘Gaganyaan programme’ for manned flight to space

New Delhi: In major boost to India’s ambitious programme to send astronauts to space, the Union Cabinet has approved Rs 10,000-crore “Gaganyaan Programme” that envisages two unmanned and one manned flights to the space. Informing about the decision on Friday, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said: “Three Indian astronauts will be sent to space for up to seven days by 2022.”

Announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, the total fund requirement for the Gaganyaan Programme is within Rs 10,000 crore and includes cost of technology development, flight hardware realisation and essential infrastructure elements. Two unmanned flights and one manned flight will be undertaken as part of the programme.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will collaborate extensively with various national agencies, laboratories, academia and industry to accomplish the Gaganyaan Programme objectives. While the ISRO will be responsible for realising the flight hardware through industry, national agencies, laboratories and academia will participate in crew training, human life science technology development initiatives as well as design reviews.

First human space flight demonstration is targeted to be completed within 40 months from the date of sanction. Prior to this, two unmanned flights in full complement will be carried out to gain confidence on the technology and mission management aspects. (IANS)

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