Archive · 5 Sep 2026
ISRO Advances Uncrewed Gaganyaan Mission Amid Satellite Launch
India’s space agency, ISRO, is preparing to launch a Gaganyaan spacecraft without astronauts inside.
ISRO chief V Narayanan said the work is happening vigorously and in an organized way.
The first uncrewed mission is planned for sometime during the current calendar year.
ISRO is working with companies and other organizations to prepare it.
The agency recently launched the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite.
Narayanan called that launch ISRO’s first success of the financial year.
He said EOS-05 is designed to work for nine years.
He also said ISRO plans six more launches this financial year and rejected claims that EOS-05 is a spy satellite.
ISRO chief V Narayanan said vigorous, systematic work is underway for the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission.
The mission is targeted for launch during the current calendar year.
The GSLV-F17/EOS-05 Earth observation satellite launch was ISRO’s first success of the financial year.
ISRO is working with industries and other organisations on the Gaganyaan mission.
Narayanan said six more launches, including navigation satellite NVS-03, are targeted this financial year and dismissed claims that EOS-05 was a spy satellite.
- Who
- ISRO, led by chief V Narayanan, with industries and other organisations.
- What
- Preparation is underway for the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, alongside plans for further launches.
- When
- The statement was reported on Friday, September 4; the year was not specified. The Gaganyaan launch is targeted for the current calendar year.
- Where
- Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
- Why
- To prepare for and conduct the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission.
Satellite Speculation
ISRO’s Account
Purpose of EOS-05
Satellite Speculation
Unnamed speculation described the Earth observation satellite as a “spy satellite.”
ISRO’s Account
V Narayanan dismissed that speculation and said the satellite has an operational lifetime of nine years.
- Mission
- First uncrewed Gaganyaan mission
- Target timing
- During the current calendar year
- ISRO chief
- V Narayanan
- Recent launch
- GSLV-F17/EOS-05 Earth observation satellite
- Satellite lifetime
- Nine years
- Additional launches
- Six launches, including navigation satellite NVS-03, are targeted during the financial year
- Mission partners
- Industries and other organisations are working with ISRO
