ISRO Gaganyaan 2025: India's first uncrewed mission G1 with robot Vyommitra to lift off by December

ISRO Sets Stage for First Uncrewed Gaganyaan Mission

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for the first uncrewed mission of its Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, expected to lift off by the end of this year, likely in December. The mission, named G1, will carry Vyommitra, a half-humanoid robot designed to test spacecraft systems ahead of future human flights, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan announced on Thursday.

Addressing the media alongside Space Minister Jitendra Singh and astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, Narayanan highlighted the importance of Shukla’s recent experience aboard the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), India’s first successful human spaceflight to the station. He noted that Shukla’s training and operational experience would be critical for the upcoming Gaganyaan missions.

Narayanan also cautioned about the risks involved in crewed space missions, referencing a liquid oxygen leak during the Falcon-9 launch of Axiom-4, which could have posed a severe threat to astronaut safety. “Even a small crack combined with lift-off vibrations could lead to catastrophic failure,” he said.

Shukla described his ISS mission as a “mission of the entire nation”, thanking Indian citizens for their support. “Being on the space station is very different from what we learn on the ground. It was an unbelievable experience,” he said. The astronaut confirmed that the team successfully conducted seven experiments, ranging from stem cell studies to growing sprouts in microgravity, with encouraging preliminary results.

He also highlighted the significance of international collaboration in space exploration. “Crew Dragon is one of three vehicles currently capable of taking humans to space. We also trained on Russia’s Soyuz. The ISS, operational since 2000, is a perfect example of global scientific partnership,” Shukla added.

Narayanan underscored ISRO’s recent accomplishments, emphasizing the collective effort of 20,000 employees, 450 industrial partners, and 300 academic institutions. He listed various programmes, including telemedicine, tele-education, television broadcasting, real-time connectivity for trains and shipping vessels, and contributions toward 13 out of 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Other notable achievements include the Aditya-L1 solar mission, the NISAR Earth observation project, breakthroughs in cryogenic engine technology, and upcoming satellite launches, including a 6,500-kg US communication satellite. To date, India has launched 433 satellites from 34 countries.

With the G1 mission and Vyommitra on the horizon, ISRO is set to take another significant step toward India’s ambitious human spaceflight programme, building on decades of scientific and technological excellence.