New Delhi, April 10 (NationPress) Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Friday expressed his heartfelt congratulations to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the triumphant completion of the Second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) as part of the Gaganyaan mission, which marks India’s inaugural human spaceflight set to launch in 2027. He emphasized that this accomplishment is a notable milestone in the preparations for this ambitious endeavor.

In a post on the social media platform X, Singh stated, “Kudos to ISRO for the successful execution of the Second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) for Gaganyaan, which is India’s first human spaceflight planned for next year.”

He further highlighted that, “The second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) was successfully undertaken at the Satish Dhawan Space Station in Sriharikota. This represents a vital milestone in our journey towards the Gaganyaan mission.”

India’s pioneering human spaceflight is set to be launched from Sriharikota in 2027. Despite facing several delays due to the intricate technological requirements, India has been diligently developing the necessary capabilities in-house. It is important to note that such critical spaceflight technologies are highly confidential, with no nation willing to share them.

The government has earmarked approximately Rs 10,000 crore for the Gaganyaan project. The mission is currently in its concluding phase, with the first crewed flight anticipated in the first quarter of 2027.

On April 8, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan mentioned that all preparations for the uncrewed Gaganyaan missions are progressing smoothly. During his address at the inaugural session of the 2nd International Conference on Smart Spacecraft Mission Operations, he remarked, “We are convening just before the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission. This is no ordinary mission; it is crucial for India. There will be three uncrewed missions before the final crewed launch. All activities for the first mission are on track, though challenges persist.”

The conference also saw the participation of former ISRO heads A.S. Kiran Kumar and S. Somanath, along with ISRO center directors, students, and representatives from space startups.

Meanwhile, further advancements in India’s human spaceflight preparations occurred on April 4, as four selected astronauts commenced a high-altitude experiment in Ladakh under the “Mission Mitra” (Mapping of Interoperable Traits and Reliability Assessment). This program's aim is to assess human performance in extreme conditions.

The astronauts, including Group Captain Shubhnashu Shukla and P. Balakrishnan Nair, arrived in Leh earlier this week for acclimatization. This mission is backed by a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, medical professionals, and psychologists, marking another crucial step in India’s journey towards human space exploration.