ISRO chief V Narayanan said vigorous and systematic work is underway for the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, targeted for launch this year. He also announced six more launches for the financial year and dismissed speculation that EOS-05 is a spy satellite
Published Date – 4 September 2026, 09:00 AM
Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh): ISRO chief V Narayanan on Friday said that “vigorous, systematic work” is underway for the launch of the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission during this calendar year.
The launch of the Earth observation satellite (GSLV-F17/EOS-05) is the first success for ISRO during this financial year, Narayanan said, adding, “The reward for hard work is more work.” Accordingly, the ISRO team, along with industries and other organisations, is working on the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission.
In his address following the successful launch of EOS-05, he said that activities were underway “very vigorously and systematically” for the launch of the uncrewed mission during this calendar year.
Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership, Narayanan said that six more launches, including the navigation satellite NVS-03, are targeted for this financial year.
Later, addressing a press conference, the ISRO chief said the Earth observation satellite’s operational lifetime is nine years and dismissed speculation that it was a “spy satellite”.
