By 
January 1st, 2020
India space program officials are all thumbs up. Behind them, full scale model of the Gaganyaan crew module.
Credit: ISRO
India is pressing forward with its human spaceflight program. Four Gaganyaan mission astronauts have been picked to begin training in Russia later this month.
Credit: ISRO
In a January 1 press briefing, K Sivan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said: “We’ve made good progress in the mission. The process of astronaut selection for the mission is completed.”
The selected astronauts are from the Indian Air Force. Up to three astronauts are expected to take part in the 7-day mission, scheduled to occur by 2022.
Sivan added that several tests will be conducted during the year, including Gaganyaan’s first uncrewed flight.
K Sivan, Chairman, India Space Research Organization (ISRO)
Credit: ISRO
Lunar plans
As for India’s lunar exploration plans, Sivan said that the Chandrayaan-3 mission — comprising a lander and a rover — is approved by the Government and activities for its realization are in progress. He added that the target time for the mission is in 2020, but its lunar landing “may spill over” to 2021.
Sivan explained to reporters that Chandrayaan-3’s lander/rover would have a “similar configuration” to the previous mission that ended up crashing on the Moon earlier this year.
Second launch port
Sivan said India planned to launch at least 25 space missions in 2020.
On the capacity building front, explains an ISRO statement, a second launch port, exclusively for the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), is planned to be established in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu. “Land acquisition activities are presently in progress,” Sivan said.
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