Overview
- Chairman V. Narayanan outlined the 2026 plan after the LVM3-M6 flight, naming the uncrewed Gaganyaan orbital test as the year’s marquee mission.
- ISRO reports nearly 200 achievements in 2025, including the 100th launch from Sriharikota, a successful space-docking demonstration, and advances tied to human spaceflight.
- Technical readiness has advanced with human-rating work on LVM3, propulsion and ECLSS engineering models, crew escape system motor tests, and new training and control facilities.
- The launch window for the unmanned test remains tentative, with officials signaling targets and industry sources cautioning that dates are not final.
- Private-sector momentum continues, with Skyroot preparing another mission, SSLV boosting commercial activity, a Rs 1,000 crore IN-SPACe fund, and forecasts seeing India’s space economy reaching about $44 billion by 2033.