Image Credit: ISRO
India Increases Gaganyaan Budget to $2.32 Billion for Expanded Space Missions
India has announced an increase in the budget for its Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission to $2.32 billion, expanding the project’s scope to include the development and operation of a national space station. The revised plan outlines the execution of two crewed and six uncrewed missions by 2028.
Expansion of Gaganyaan Mission
The Gaganyaan mission, translating to “sky craft” in Hindi, represents India’s inaugural endeavor into human spaceflight. The mission’s primary objective is to deploy a habitable space capsule into a 400 km orbit and ensure its safe return with a splashdown in the Indian Ocean. This initiative aims to demonstrate India’s capability to send astronauts into space and bring them back safely, a milestone previously achieved only by the United States, Russia, and China.
Budget Enhancement and Mission Objectives
Deputy Minister Jitendra Singh informed Parliament that the Gaganyaan mission’s budget has been increased to 201.93 billion rupees … Initially, the project received approval for approximately $1.1 billion and was planned to include one crewed and two un … . The expanded budget will support the additional missions and the development of a national space station.
Challenges and Delays
The mission, originally announced in 2019 … encountered delays due to the COVID-19 … the implementation of additional safety measures. Deputy Minister Singh cited a global shortage of space-compatible electronic components and the extended time required to develop an indigenous life support system for astronauts as significant factors contributing to the delay.
Future Aspirations
Looking ahead, India aims to establish an operational Bharatiya Ant … plans to undertake a crewed mission to the Moon … . In line with these ambitions, Group Captain Shubhans … has been selected to participate in Houston-based Axiom’s planned … , marking a significant step in India’s human spaceflight endeavors.
These developments underscore India’s commitment to advancing its space exploration capabilities and achieving self-reliance in space technology.
