ISRO’s 400 Scientists Worked 24×7 in Operation Sindoor, Focus Now on Gaganyaan Mission

New Delhi: More than 400 scientists of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) worked round-the-clock to provide crucial support during Operation Sindoor, ISRO Chairperson V. Narayanan said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the 52nd National Management Convention of the All India Management Association (AIMA), Narayanan said ISRO’s earth observation and communication satellites operated flawlessly 24×7, supplying vital data for national security.

“During Operation Sindoor, all satellites were working perfectly, enabling all requirements,” Narayanan said. The mission saw extensive use of drones and loitering munitions, and also tested the capabilities of India’s indigenous Akash Teer air defence system.

Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Project

The ISRO chief also outlined progress in the Gaganyaan mission, India’s maiden human spaceflight programme. He said the agency has completed 7,700 ground tests so far, with 2,300 more planned before sending astronauts into space.

Three uncrewed missions are planned under the project, the first of which is expected in December 2025. It will carry the half-humanoid robot Vyommitra to test onboard systems. Two crewed missions have already been approved, with the first Indian astronaut flight targeted for 2027.

To ensure crew safety, ISRO recently conducted a successful air-drop test of parachutes, part of the crew module’s deceleration system for safe re-entry and landing.

Long-Term Space Goals

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed ISRO to establish an Indian space station by 2035 and achieve a lunar landing with Indian astronauts by 2040. The space agency is also working to expand its satellite fleet from 55 currently to about 155 in the next three years, significantly enhancing civilian and defence capabilities.

Narayanan also noted that astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station and return safely, while ISRO’s SpaDeX mission successfully demonstrated docking and undocking in orbit—placing India among the four nations with this advanced space capability.

Operation Sindoor has underlined the importance of space assets in national security, while the Gaganyaan mission highlights India’s ambition to join the select group of nations with human spaceflight capability.