Hyderabad: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman, S Somanath has said that the organisation is planning to send Indian astronauts to the Moon for the first time by 2040.
In an article for the 'Manorama Yearbook 2024', Somanath said that four test pilots from the Indian Air Force (IAF) have been selected as astronaut designates for the mission. The astronaut designates are currently undergoing mission-specific training at the Astronaut Training Facility (ATF) in Bengaluru.
"India's space programme is poised to reach new heights in the coming years. With every mission launched and every discovery made, ISRO reaffirms its position on the global stage as a force to be reckoned with, instilling national pride and expanding India's technological feat," Somanath emphasised.
"Looking ahead, ISRO aims to take the next step in space exploration with the Gaganyaan programme, planning to launch a crew of 2 to 3 Indian astronauts into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for up to three days before safely returning them to a predefined site in Indian waters", Somanath said in the article.
The maiden manned space mission Gaganyaan involves developing critical technologies, including a human-rated (capable of safely transporting humans) launch vehicle (HLVM3), an 'Orbital Module' consisting of a 'Crew Module' (CM) and 'Service Module' (SM), and an life support systems.
