ISRO targets seven missions by March 2026; Gaganyaan uncrewed ‘G1’ among key milestones

Seven launches planned before March 2026

ISRO is targeting seven missions to be launched by March 2026, according to Chairman V Narayanan, who outlined a packed schedule that includes commercial payloads and technology-development flights.

Among the most watched items is the roadmap for India’s human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan. ISRO has said it plans multiple uncrewed missions before an eventual crewed flight, with the first uncrewed mission, referred to as ‘G1’, expected by March 2026.

Gaganyaan status: integration work underway

Narayanan said the Gaganyaan programme is progressing in advanced stages, with hardware having arrived at Sriharikota and integration activities underway. The goal is to validate systems through successive test flights before moving to the crewed mission phase.

ISRO’s approach relies on incremental risk reduction—testing launch vehicle performance, crew module behaviour, recovery processes and mission operations through uncrewed demonstrations.

Mix of PSLV, GSLV and LVM3 missions

Beyond Gaganyaan-linked work, the plan includes a range of launch vehicles and mission types, spanning customer satellites, national payloads and technology demonstrations. ISRO has also connected the higher launch cadence to broader strategic objectives, including expanding India’s commercial launch footprint.

A sustained launch tempo, if executed, would also support downstream growth in satellite services—communications, Earth observation and navigation—alongside research and technology validation.

The near-term test for ISRO will be execution discipline: meeting tight timelines while maintaining reliability across multiple vehicle families and payload requirements.