High-level panel formed to oversee Gaganyaan launch progress, parliamentary committee told

The Department of Space has constituted a high-level review committee to closely monitor the progress of activities leading to the launch of India’s human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan.

The Centre has provided the information to the parliamentary panel on science and technology.

The government said the Department of Space was putting all measures in place to ensure timely launches of its operational launch vehicles.

The government said various systems for Gaganyaan were in an advanced stage of completion.

“Flight integration activities for various propulsion stages of the HLVM3 launch vehicle have been completed, and the launch campaign has commenced. Mechanical and electrical integration activities for the crew module and service module are currently underway. Further tasks, including integration of the orbital module, thermovac tests, dynamic and acoustic tests, and launch complex activities such as propellant filling and integrated checks — are yet to be completed. The status of major milestones and activities leading up to the launch is being regularly reviewed in various programme management forums,” the report stated.

Private enterprises are contributing enormously to the human space programme. The Centre in the report said most of the hardware for Gaganyaan was being realised through Indian industry. These include motor cases, propellant tankages, engines, structures, realisation of various subsystems of indigenous environment control and life support system (ECLSS), avionics packages, simulated crew module, crew module recovery models and virtual reality-based training simulators.

The Department of Space said it would ensure adequate funding for future space exploration initiatives for timely realisation and launch of the mission.

NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the ISRO, is already manufacturing end-to-end PSLV rockets through Indian Industry to meet the demand.

“With regard to GSLV-Mk III, NSIL is considering the PPP mode of partnership with Indian industry to ensure an increase in production rate and catering to emerging global launch service market demand. NSIL is also working on transferring ISRO developed Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) technology to Indian industry. NSIL with ISRO will closely monitor the smooth transfer of technology and its assimilation by Indian industry,” the action taken report said.