ISRO chief says Gaganyaan unaffected by PSLV-C62 deviation; outlines space-station plan timeline
ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan said the Gaganyaan mission remains unaffected despite a major deviation during the third stage of the recent PSLV-C62 mission. Speaking in Coimbatore, he also reiterated India’s long-term plans for a national space station, with work expected to begin in 2028 and the target for completion set at 2035.
Reassurance after a launch setback
ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan has said India’s flagship human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, is not impacted by the significant deviation reported during the PSLV-C62 mission’s third stage. Speaking at a national-level educator awards ceremony in Coimbatore, he sought to separate the ongoing work on Gaganyaan from the issues seen in the recent PSLV launch.
The statement appears aimed at maintaining confidence in India’s space roadmap after the PSLV-C62 event, given that Gaganyaan has high visibility and is seen as a key step in India’s ambitions in crewed missions and advanced space capability.
What Narayanan highlighted about India’s space capability
Narayanan pointed to major milestones India has achieved in recent years, including being the first country to soft-land near the Moon’s south pole, and having advanced imaging capability for lunar observations. He also said India has the capacity to carry payloads up to 9,000 kg, underlining growth in launch capability and systems engineering.
His remarks were made in the broader context of national development and scientific progress, projecting space technology as both a strategic capability and a source of national pride.
Space station timeline: 2028 start, 2035 target
In addition to the Gaganyaan reassurance, Narayanan reiterated plans for an Indian space station. He said work on a dedicated station is expected to begin in 2028, with an aim to establish it by 2035. The timeline offers a long-range view of India’s next phase in human space activity beyond the first crewed mission.
A space station programme would require sustained development in life-support systems, crew safety, orbital operations and reliable launch cadence—areas where lessons from both successes and failures in launch vehicles and mission management become highly relevant.
What to watch going forward
While ISRO continues multiple parallel projects, the immediate attention will remain on how it addresses the technical issues indicated by the PSLV-C62 deviation, and how it maintains schedule and risk controls for Gaganyaan. Observers will also track whether the space-station plan translates into published milestones, budgets and partnership frameworks in the coming years.
For now, ISRO’s message is continuity: despite a recent launch anomaly, work on its most prominent human spaceflight mission remains on track.