# India's Crewed Space Program to Launch This Year The Gaganyaan project advances towards the goal of a space station by 2035. - **Source:** [www.theregister.com - Articles](https://brifing.si/source/2c34ea50-d341-4a10-925d-12c012a9ad10) - **Published:** 2026-08-26 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/1dd6f820-e04f-4deb-a966-8e3523b5d44d ## Gaganyaan Program and Goals India plans to launch its first crewed space mission, Gaganyaan, this year. Despite missing the 2022 and 2025 targets, the program has expanded to include operating a space station by 2035. ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan announced during India's National Space Day that rocket and crew module testing is nearly complete. ## Test Launches and LVM3 Rocket The LVM3 launcher, to be used for Gaganyaan missions, has a history of nine successful launches. Designed for human flights, it includes a crew escape system with solid-fuel motors to ensure the safety of Vyomanauts, India's term for astronauts. ## Crew Module and Mission Details The Gaganyaan crew module is designed to carry three Vyomanauts and remain in a 400 km orbit for three days before splashing down in Indian waters. ISRO plans to use a robot on at least one test mission, though the status of this plan remains unclear. ## India's Position in Space If India successfully launches Vyomanauts into orbit, it will become the fourth country to do so with its own vehicle, following Russia, the USA, and China. This achievement would strengthen India's role in space exploration and mark a significant step in the global space race. ## 2035 Space Station Goal ISRO aims to place an Indian space station in orbit by 2035. This project would solidify India's presence in space and elevate its position as a leader in space research. ## Role of the Private Sector India plans to increase private sector involvement in space, potentially adopting a model similar to NASA's use of commercial launchers. Japan, meanwhile, contracts industrial giants like Mitsubishi to build rockets while managing its own missions. ## Test Mission Schedule ISRO will conduct the first of three test missions this year. However, the dates for the second and third test launches remain undisclosed, as does the timeline for the first crewed mission. ## India's Significance in the Space Race The Gaganyaan program underscores India's ambitions in space exploration. If successful, India will emerge as a key player in the global space race and take on a leadership role in space technology. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.theregister.com/science/2026/08/26/indias-crewed-space-program-will-fly-this-year-after-missing-2022-and-2025-targets/5292478 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._