ISRO Chairman K Sivan has reciprocated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day announcement that an Indian astronaut will be sent into space by 2022 on board Gaganyaan. Addressing media persons in Bengaluru

today, the Chairman said, ISRO is ready to carry out the task entrusted to it by the Prime Minister.

Saying that the space agency had already developed the necessary technology, he added that the Human Spaceflight Programme is achievable. Dr. Sivan informed that infrastructural facilities for the manned mission will be developed in a time bound manner within the deadline set by the Prime Minister.

Mr Sivan said, prior to the actual launch by 2022, the ISRO will have two unmanned missions and spacecraft will be launched using GSLV Mark-III. He pointed out that GSLV Mark III launch vehicle will be fully equipped with crew module and life support system for manned mission in the next two years.

He further said that the ground infrastructure and sub-systems are being developed indigenously. Our correspondent reports, if successful, India would be the fourth nation to achieve that feat.