ISRO says Gaganyaan unaffected after PSLV-C62 deviation; outlines India space station timeline

Assurance on Gaganyaan amid questions after a launch anomaly

ISRO Chairman Dr V. Narayanan said the Gaganyaan mission remains unaffected despite a significant deviation reported during the PSLV-C62 mission in its third stage. Speaking at an educator awards and book release event in Coimbatore, he framed the update as part of the agency’s broader project pipeline, stressing continuity in India’s human spaceflight preparations.

The clarification comes at a time when public attention is high around launch reliability and timelines for flagship programmes. By separating the PSLV incident from the human spaceflight roadmap, ISRO signalled that the Gaganyaan critical path is being managed independently, with multiple parallel systems and reviews underway.

Space station plan: work from 2028, target by 2035

Narayanan also spoke about longer-term ambitions, stating that work on a separate Indian space station is planned to begin as early as 2028 and that the station is targeted to be established by 2035. He highlighted India’s recent space achievements and said several projects are in progress, with Gaganyaan remaining a primary focus.

If the timeline holds, the space station programme would mark a major step beyond satellite launches and planetary missions into sustained human presence infrastructure. The next milestones will likely include technology demonstrations, human-rating work, and mission-readiness activities that build confidence before any permanent orbital facility becomes feasible.

Takeaways

• ISRO says Gaganyaan is not impacted by the PSLV-C62 third-stage deviation
• Agency reiterates multiple projects in progress with Gaganyaan at the forefront
• India space station work planned from 2028, target completion by 2035

ISRO’s message is clear: a recent launch anomaly is being addressed, but Gaganyaan’s roadmap remains on track, alongside an ambitious space station timeline.