The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has made a significant adjustment to its schedule for the maiden Test Vehicle launch for the Gaganyaan human space flight mission. Initially set for 8 am, the flight test without any crew will now happen at 8:30 am from Sriharikota.
The sudden change in timing, while not immediately explained, is speculated to be a response to prevailing rainfall and cloudy weather conditions. The countdown timer displayed at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre was promptly removed following the announcement.
This Test Vehicle D1 mission serves as a precursor to the Gaganyaan program, which aims to launch humans into space for a Low Earth Orbit mission lasting three days before safely returning them to Earth.
The test flight's primary objectives are to evaluate the performance of the Crew Escape system, a crucial aspect of the Gaganyaan mission. Additionally, it will assess the safe landing in the Bay of Bengal post-rocket launch.
ISRO has outlined an ambitious plan comprising around 20 major tests, encompassing three uncrewed missions of the Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3).
Named after the Sanskrit word for "craft" or "vehicle to the sky," the Gaganyaan project has been developed at a cost of ₹90 billion. If everything goes well, this project will make India the fourth country ever, after the Soviet Union, the US, and China, to send a person to space.