📰 Gaganyaan Mission: Astronaut Training to Resume in 2026 for India’s First Human Spaceflight

📅 May 14, 2025
📍 New Delhi, India

India is gearing up again for its historic first human spaceflight mission — Gaganyaan. According to ISRO sources, astronaut training for the mission is set to resume in 2026, after several delays caused by technical refinements and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gaganyaan is India's flagship human space mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts (Gagannauts) into space aboard an indigenous spacecraft, marking a monumental leap in India’s space capabilities.

🚀 What is Gaganyaan?

Gaganyaan is India’s first manned space mission, being developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The mission aims to:

Send 3 astronauts to low-Earth orbit (LEO) for up to 7 days

Use an Indian-made GSLV Mk III rocket

Establish India as the fourth country to send humans to space, after the USA, Russia, and China

🧑‍🚀 Training Timeline

ISRO officials confirmed that astronaut training will restart in early 2026, with both physical and simulator-based preparations.

🗣️ “We are reworking mission modules and aligning with global safety protocols. Astronaut training will restart in India with refined frameworks,” said a senior ISRO engineer.

Earlier, selected Indian Air Force pilots underwent basic training in Russia. The upcoming phase will include advanced simulations, zero-gravity exposure, and survival training.

🌍 Mission Importance

🌌 Positions India among elite spacefaring nations

🛰️ Boosts indigenous aerospace technology

🤝 Opens future for international collaboration on human spaceflight

👨‍🏫 Inspires young Indian scientists and engineers

📆 Tentative Timeline

2025–2026: Final phase of astronaut selection & training

2026 (Late): Possible uncrewed test flight

2027 (Expected): First crewed Gaganyaan launch