NEW DELHI, Oct 10 (Reuters) – India will conduct a key check in its bold area mission Gaganyaan on Oct. 21, launching an empty module into outer area and bringing it again to earth, deputy minister for science and know-how Jitendra Singh stated on Tuesday.

The ultimate mission, anticipated to happen subsequent yr, is the primary of its type for the nation and can value about 90.23 billion Indian rupees ($1.08 billion). It will contain launching a human-habitable area capsule with a crew of three to an orbit of 400 km (250 miles) earlier than bringing them safely again to land in Indian waters.

The phrase Gaganyaan in Hindi interprets to sky craft.

The check this month will probably be carried out from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in southern India and can take a look at the efficacy of the crew escape system, which can be utilized to eject astronauts in emergencies.

It will probably be adopted by one other check flight carrying a robotic to outer area earlier than the ultimate manned mission takes place, the minister stated.

“Before the ultimate manned ‘Gaganyaan’ mission, there will be a test flight next year, which will carry Vyommitra, the female robot astronaut,” he stated.

While a precise timeline has not been shared, the primary mission is anticipated to be launched from the nation’s major spaceport in Sriharikota earlier than the tip of 2024.

Singh was talking at a program to commend Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists related to the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which made India the primary nation to land on the south pole of the moon.

In September, the nation’s area company shortly adopted up on this success by launching a rocket to review the solar – its first such photo voltaic mission.

($1 = 83.2066 Indian rupees)

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