Bengaluru: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing to launch its first Gaganyaan test mission in December 2025, marking a crucial step towards India’s ambitious human spaceflight programme. The confirmation came from ISRO Chief V. Narayanan, while astronaut trainee Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla reiterated the nation’s readiness during a recent media interaction.
Shukla, who was part of the Axiom Space Ax-4 mission, reflected on the transformative experience of human spaceflight and the importance of global cooperation in space exploration. “I had never thought I would go to space. If I can do it, so can you. We will have Gaganyaan, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, and a series of missions ahead. Even today, India looks ‘saare jahan se accha’ from antriksh (space),” he said, quoting the iconic lyric to describe the view from orbit.
Emphasising the deeper learnings of spaceflight, Shukla said the knowledge gained goes well beyond scientific data and will prove invaluable for Gaganyaan’s success. “When I spoke to children from space, their excitement was palpable. Many asked how they too could become astronauts—that is a big win. ISRO is ready; India is ready to make this dream a reality,” he remarked.
Shukla also underlined the spirit of unity and collaboration he witnessed on the Ax-4 mission, which brought together astronauts and mission controllers from multiple nations. “It showed the unifying nature of space and the power of collaboration,” he observed.
Speaking about the experiments conducted during the mission, Shukla noted that the samples have already been sent to research institutions, where principal investigators are analysing the findings. The major takeaway, he said, was helping teams better understand how to design and adapt experiments for space environments.
The Gaganyaan mission, India’s first human spaceflight project, aims to send a crew of astronauts into low-Earth orbit, strengthening India’s position as a key player in the global space community.