‘We’re working on for first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission this year’, says Isro chief V Narayanan NEW DELHI: Isro chairman V Narayanan said on Saturday that the country is preparing for the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, advancing Chandrayaan-4, a lunar sample return mission, and Chandrayaan-5, a joint long-duration mission with Japan involving a heavier rover.Delivering the 17th Air Chief Marshal L M Katre Memorial Lecture in Karnataka, Isro chief said, “We are now working on the first uncrewed mission this year. Then once we review the result, we’ll come back to the crewed mission.” He added, “Gaganyaan is a technology-intensive mission. We have to do the human-rating of the vehicle … before sending actual human beings, we have to do 3 uncrewed missions, and we are working towards the first uncrewed mission. You will come to know about the dates very shortly …”On the lunar missions, Narayanan said Chandrayaan-4 will be India’s first lunar sample return mission, while Chandrayaan-5, to be undertaken jointly with Japan, will deploy a 350-kg rover capable of operating for nearly 100 days, compared with the 25-kg rover and 14-day operational life of Chandrayaan-3. On India’s cryogenic engine programme, he said technology denial had ultimately strengthened indigenous capabilities. “Today, I thank the countries that denied us the technology. Today we have developed three cryogenic propulsion systems,” he said. Referring to the recent successful hot test of the semi-cryogenic engine power head test article (PHTA) at a thrust level of 175 tonnes, Narayanan said, “A test that was conducted, excluding the thrust chamber … we have taken close to 90% of the thrust load … it was a major achievement and milestone, and now we are getting ready for the engine test … satellites are ready, and we are working on that, an exact date will be provided soon …”Meanwhile, aerospace engineer N Jayan, who led the development of the indigenous CE20 cryogenic engine that powers India’s LVM3 heavy-lift launch vehicle, has been appointed director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC).Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosKarnataka Man Pulls Out Crude Bombs After Lover ‘Refused’ To Marry Him, Dies In ExplosionNCB Report Warns Of Nitazenes, Myanmar Route; Flags Telegram As Key Hub For Drug AdsMaharashtra TET Exam Postponed After ‘Paper Leak’, 3 Arrested, CM Fadnavis Orders SIT ProbeFadnavis, Uddhav Share Flight Amid Shiv Sena Turmoil After Six MPs Switch Sides | WatchPM Modi Meets Jonathan, World’s Oldest Living Land Animal, During Seychelles VisitAkal Takht Summons Sikh MLAs; Bhagwant Mann Calls Crucial AAP Huddle In Punjab | WatchIndian Vessels Desh Suraksha, SSL Kaveri Sail Through Hormuz; Third Takes U-TurnDMK Alliance Rocked As Vaiko’s MDMK Quits SPA After Nine Years Of Partnership | WatchClass 12 Student Sarthak Sidhant, Who Exposed CBSE Tender Procedure, Launches 1.66 Cr Record Portal’India Deserves Permanent Seat At UNSC’: Seychelles Foreign Minister Ahead Of PM Modi’s Visit123Photostories6 high-protein cheela recipes for healthy weight lossEveryone else seems to have it figured out: Why young adults feel the pressure to be ‘sorted’ before they turn 30Bollywood stars who follow the early dinner rule for fitness: From Anushka Sharma to Akshay Kumar5 common mistakes people make while buying diamondsFrom the ‘Mahakumbh of Tantrics’ to the sacred red water: 5 fascinating facts about Ambubachi Mela, India’s unique Menstruation FestivalEating dinner too late? Doctors warn this everyday habit could quietly affect your kidneys and metabolism10 beautiful baby boy names inspired by ancient gods and their powerful meanings7 simple ingredients to add more fibre to your rajmaIs your desk snack stash secretly affecting your blood sugar? Doctors explainInside Sunita Ahuja’s lavish Rs 16 crore home: Stunning living room, stylish bar, scenic balcony and more123Hot PicksChinese proverb of the dayJapanese Proverb Of The DayErling Haaland and Isabel Haugseng Combined Net worthFIFA world cup 2026Rams FanRam Temple DonationNigerian Proverb of the dayUS Strike on IranKetan Agarwal MurderTop TrendingK BhagyarajMumbai Local Train DeathRam Temple Donation RowFIFA World Cup 2026NFL TradeUS Iran CeasefirePriyanka GandhiSergei IvanovMK StalinMumbai Local Train News
NEW DELHI: Isro chairman V Narayanan said on Saturday that the country is preparing for the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, advancing Chandrayaan-4, a lunar sample return mission, and Chandrayaan-5, a joint long-duration mission with Japan involving a heavier rover.Delivering the 17th Air Chief Marshal L M Katre Memorial Lecture in Karnataka, Isro chief said, “We are now working on the first uncrewed mission this year. Then once we review the result, we’ll come back to the crewed mission.” He added, “Gaganyaan is a technology-intensive mission. We have to do the human-rating of the vehicle … before sending actual human beings, we have to do 3 uncrewed missions, and we are working towards the first uncrewed mission. You will come to know about the dates very shortly …”On the lunar missions, Narayanan said Chandrayaan-4 will be India’s first lunar sample return mission, while Chandrayaan-5, to be undertaken jointly with Japan, will deploy a 350-kg rover capable of operating for nearly 100 days, compared with the 25-kg rover and 14-day operational life of Chandrayaan-3. On India’s cryogenic engine programme, he said technology denial had ultimately strengthened indigenous capabilities. “Today, I thank the countries that denied us the technology. Today we have developed three cryogenic propulsion systems,” he said. Referring to the recent successful hot test of the semi-cryogenic engine power head test article (PHTA) at a thrust level of 175 tonnes, Narayanan said, “A test that was conducted, excluding the thrust chamber … we have taken close to 90% of the thrust load … it was a major achievement and milestone, and now we are getting ready for the engine test … satellites are ready, and we are working on that, an exact date will be provided soon ...”Meanwhile, aerospace engineer N Jayan, who led the development of the indigenous CE20 cryogenic engine that powers India’s LVM3 heavy-lift launch vehicle, has been appointed director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC).
