# Gaganyaan Uncrewed Mission: ISRO Eyes March Lift-Off After Repeated Delays

URL: https://technosports.co.in/gaganyaan-uncrewed-mission-isro-eyes/  
Published: 2026-01-03  
Updated: 2026-01-03  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

After missing multiple deadlines, India’s ambitious **[Gaganyaan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaganyaan)human spaceflight programme** is finally edging closer to a crucial milestone. According to the latest update, the **first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission (HLVM3 G1/OM1)** is now likely to lift off **before March 2026**, marking a major step toward India’s goal of sending astronauts to space.

This mission will test the **entire end-to-end spaceflight sequence** — from launch to splashdown — using an **unpressurised crew module**, ensuring systems are safe before humans fly.

## 📊 Gaganyaan Uncrewed Mission: Key Details

| **Aspect** | **Details** |
| --- | --- |
| Mission Name | HLVM3 G1 / OM1 |
| Launch Timeline | Likely before March 2026 |
| Type | Uncrewed demonstration mission |
| Launch Vehicle | Human-rated LVM3 |
| Orbit | Low Earth Orbit |
| Key Objective | Re-entry, splashdown & recovery |
| Crew Module | Unpressurised |
| Agency | ISRO |

## 🛰️ What This Mission Will Demonstrate

The upcoming uncrewed flight is designed to **validate every critical phase** of a human space mission. The human-rated launch vehicle will place the spacecraft in low Earth orbit, after which the crew module will safely re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, deploy parachutes, and perform a controlled splashdown — followed by recovery.

This test is essential before astronauts can be onboard.

![Gaganyaan](https://images.technosports.co.in/2026/01/image-206-1024x630.png)

## ⏳ Why Gaganyaan Has Faced Delays

First announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in **2018**, Gaganyaan was initially targeted for **2021**, coinciding with India’s 75th Independence anniversary. However:

- **COVID-19 disrupted supply chains**
- Manufacturing and system integration faced setbacks
- Revised timelines in FY22, FY23, and FY24 were missed

Even though ISRO committed to multiple missions in FY25 and FY26, the schedule has remained fluid.

## 🔧 Systems Already Tested & Certified

Despite the delay, ISRO has made **significant technical progress**:

- Crew Escape System motors tested for high & low altitudes
- Crew Module Thermal Protection System validated
- **10-parachute system** successfully tested, including air-drop trials
- Half-humanoid robot performance verified
- Communications, onboard computers & vibration tests completed
- Safety items like survival kits and dosimeters certified

These milestones ensure astronaut safety once crewed missions begin.

## 🗓️ What Lies Ahead in the Gaganyaan Calendar

The programme has expanded from **3 missions to 8 missions** — including:

- **6 uncrewed missions**
- **2 crewed missions**
- Launch of the first module of the **Bharatiya Antariksh Station**

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## ❓FAQs

### **Q1: Why is the first Gaganyaan mission uncrewed?**

  
Uncrewed missions test safety, re-entry, and recovery systems to ensure astronauts face minimal risk during crewed flights.

### **Q2: When will Indian astronauts finally go to space?**

If tests succeed, ISRO aims for the **first crewed Gaganyaan mission by late 2027 or early 2028**.