BANGALORE: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has dispatched the Crew Module for the first uncrewed mission under its Gaganyaan project (G1), marking a significant step towards achieving human spaceflight capabilities. This milestone was reached after successfully integrating the module's liquid propulsion system, ISRO announced on Wednesday. Gaganyaan is India’s ambitious mission to send humans into space. Before undertaking a manned mission, ISRO plans to carry out an uncrewed mission to test all critical systems. In an official statement, ISRO shared, "On January 21, 2025, the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) dispatched the Crew Module for G1 after completing the integration of the liquid propulsion system." The Crew Module was sent from LPSC in Bangalore to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota for further processing, according to ISRO officials. The Crew Module Propulsion System (CMPS), which plays a critical role in the mission, is designed to ensure precise control of the module in three directions: pitch, yaw, and roll. This bi-propellant-based Reaction Control System (RCS) will be activated once the service module separates during the descent and re-entry phases, continuing until the parachute deceleration system takes over. “This system utilizes 12 thrusters, each with a thrust of 100 Newtons, along with a pressurization system featuring high-pressure gas bottles and a propellant feed system. Additional fluid control components are also integrated into the system,” ISRO explained. For clarification, the 100N thrusters are small rocket engines used for maneuvering spacecraft, ISRO officials noted. Additionally, the Crew Module Uprighting System (CMUS), developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), has been integrated into the module at LPSC. ISRO stated that the Crew Module will undergo further integration processes, including assembling the avionics package, installing electrical harnesses, and performing system checks at VSSC. Following these operations, the module will be sent to the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bangalore for the final phase of integration with the Orbital Module. On January 9, 2025, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State, chaired a high-level review of ISRO's ambitious space missions for 2025. He was joined by outgoing Chairman Dr. S. Somnath, incoming Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan, and other senior officials, including Mr. Pawan Kumar Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe. This strategic meeting paved the way for ISRO's exciting upcoming projects, showcasing India's growing prowess in space exploration. Some of the notable missions lined up for 2025 include: - Gaganyaan's Uncrewed Orbital Test Mission: A critical step towards India's human spaceflight program, focusing on crew safety and recovery. - GSLV Missions: Two significant launches, including the GSLV-F15 mission, which will carry the NVS-02 navigation satellite to enhance India's positioning and navigation capabilities. - NISAR Satellite Launch: A joint collaboration between ISRO and NASA, featuring advanced radar imaging technology for agriculture, natural disasters, and climate monitoring. - Commercial LVM3-M5 Mission: A launch of BlueBird Block-2 satellites, highlighting ISRO's growing presence in the global space market.