First test flight of Gaganyaan mission rocket likely by year-end : ISRO Chief

Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh): Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S.Somanath on Friday said the three stages of the rocket for the prestigious Gaganyaan mission has reached the SHAR Range here and the space agency is targetting its first test flight by the end of this year.

Talking to reporters after the successful launch of SSLV-D3/EOS08 mission, he said first test flight of the rocket for the first human flight mission Gaganyaan was expected to happen in December.

The three stages of the vehicle has reached SDSC, SHAR and the crew module was being integrated at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) Thiruvananthapuram.

All the systems for the Gaganyaan rocket, which was code named G1, will reach the SHAR Range in November this year and ISRO is targetting the first test flight in December this year.

To a question, Mr Somanath said construction work has started for building the Second Rocket Launch facility at Kulasekarapattinam in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu.

It was expected to be commissioned in two years.

This facility would be primary used for launching SSLV rockets and the ISRO would continue to launch PSLV and GSLV missions from Sriharikota.

About the success of today's SSLV-D3 mission, he said “the third developmental flight of SSLV, has been successfully accomplished. The rocket has placed the satellites in a very precise orbit as planned and there are no deviations in the injection conditions. The solar panels are deployed".

With the completion of the final developmental flight, the SSLV technology will now be transferred to the industry.

With today's accomplishment, SSLV has entered the operational phase. This mission completes the SSLV Development Project and enables operational missions by Indian industry and NSIL.

“We are on the process of transfer of the technology of the SSLV to the industry for serial production and launch of SSLV. This is a great beginning,” Mr Somanath said.

It may be noted that the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) had announced last year the ISRO’s decision to transfer the SSLV technology to private players.

The process of selecting the industry or the consortium of industries was on and it will take about two years for the selected party to learn and roll out the SSLVs, theISRO Chief said.