The Gaganyaan: ISRO's maiden space man mission 

The Gaganyaan mission is an ambitious space man mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO), aimed at sending Indian astronauts(Vyomanauts) into space. The Gaganyaan mission was officially announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the eve of Independence day on August 15, 2018. The  mission expected  for a launch date by the end of 2024 or in 2025, after following several uncrewed test flights. The crewed mission is expected to last for about 5-7 days in low Earth orbit at an altitude of approximately 300-400 kilometers.

Mission objectives: The primary goal of the Gaganyaan mission is to demonstrate India's capability to send humans to space and bring them back safely. This ISRO mission represents a significant step in India's space exploration efforts, making it one of the few countries with independent human spaceflight capabilities.

Mission components

Launch Vehicle: The Gaganyaan mission will use the well proven and reliable heavy lift launcher of ISRO, LVM-3 also known as GSLV Mk II-M1 which is India's heaviest and most powerful rocket.

HLVM3: Will be capable of launching orbital module to an intended low earth orbit of 400 km. HLVM3 consists of Crew Escape System(CES) powered by a set of quick acting, high burn rate solid motors which ensures that Crew Module along with crew is taken to a safe distance in case of any emergency either at launch pad or during ascent phase.

Orbital Module: Orbital module(OM) that will be orbiting Earth comprises of Crew Module(CM) and Service Module(SM). OM is equipped with state-of-the-art avionics systems with adequate redundancy considering human safety.

1. Crew Module(CM): This is the spacecraft that will house the astronauts. It is designed to ensure the safety and comfort of the crew, equipped with life support and environmental control systems.

2. Service Module(SM):  Attached to the Crew Module, it provides necessary propulsion and power systems, and houses other essential supplies.

Crew Members: The Gaganyaan mission aims to send a crew of three Indian astronauts into space. The four crew members undergo rigorous training in Russia with Russian space agency(Roscosmos), which includes physical fitness, spacecraft systems, and emergency survival skills. All crew members came back India after rigorous training in Russia. At Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre(VSSC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the names of the four astronauts for Gaganyaan Mission. All the four- Group Captain Prasanth Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla-are test and fighter pilots from the Indian Air Force(IAF). The group has been undergoing training for the past two years in Russia.

    Gaganyaan is a significant milestone for India, enhancing its position in space community. The mission is expected to advance India's capabilities in space technology, benefiting future space exploration mission. The development and execution of the Gaganyaan mission will have positive ripple effects on various sectors, including science, technology, and industry. Gaganyaan is seen as the foundation for more ambitious future human space flight missions by ISRO, potentially leading to deeper space exploration, including mission to the Moon and beyond.