ISRO targets seven missions by March 2026; first uncrewed Gaganyaan flight planned within FY
ISRO chief V. Narayanan said the agency is targeting seven launches before the end of March 2026, including a first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission as India advances toward human spaceflight and scales up its launch cadence.
ISRO has set an ambitious near-term launch target, with Chairman V. Narayanan stating that the space agency plans to carry out seven missions before the end of March 2026. The roadmap includes key steps under the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, along with other launch vehicle missions that support national and commercial objectives.
Narayanan said ISRO is planning three uncrewed missions ahead of the eventual crewed Gaganyaan flight. He added that the first uncrewed mission, referred to as the ‘G1 Mission’, is expected to be achieved before the end of the current financial year, signalling that integration work is moving into advanced stages.
Hardware integration at Sriharikota and a busy launch manifest
According to the chairman, hardware for the Gaganyaan programme has arrived at Sriharikota and integration is underway. The focus now is on completing assembly, checks and readiness activities so that the first uncrewed mission can validate critical systems and procedures needed for later crewed operations.
Beyond Gaganyaan, the seven-mission target includes a mix of launch vehicles and payload types. Narayanan outlined that after a recent LVM3 mission carrying a communications satellite, ISRO is preparing another LVM3 launch for a commercial communications satellite for a client, reinforcing the role of heavy-lift capability in commercial services.
PSLV and technology missions also in pipeline
The plan also includes multiple PSLV launches, including one associated with NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm. Narayanan also referenced a technology development mission targeted before the end of the financial year, as the agency continues to refine launch systems and operational capabilities.
The stated timeline is demanding, and Narayanan acknowledged the intensity of executing such a packed schedule. If achieved, the cadence would underline ISRO’s ability to manage parallel integration streams—human spaceflight prep, commercial launches and national missions—while scaling output toward longer-term goals.