India a step closer to realising first human space flight programme: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that ISRO's successful launch of a test vehicle as part of its Gaganyaan mission takes India a step closer to realising its first human space flight programme.

In a post on X, he said, "This launch takes us one step closer to realising India's first human space flight program, Gaganyaan. My best wishes to our scientists at ISRO."

The Indian Space Research Organisation on Saturday successfully successfully executed the Test Flight Abort Mission after the first test flight was aborted at 8:45 am due to a problem in the engine ignition. The three main parachutes of Gaganyaan TV-D1 were deployed after the launch.


“Mission Gaganyaan, TV D1 Test Flight is accomplished. Crew Escape System performed as intended. Mission Gaganyaan gets off on a successful note,” said ISRO after the launch.

ISRO was originally scheduled to launch the Test Vehicle Development Flight Mission-1 (TV-D1 Flight Test) at 7:30am, from Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota, but faced multiple delays, eventually putting the test on hold.

"Engine ignition has not happened in the nominal course," ISRO Chief said after the launch was put on hold.

The space agency identified the reason and corrected it later scheduling the flight for 10:00 am.

Saturday's test was the first of four tests to ensure the success of the space agency's first manned mission, expected to take off in 2025.