New Delhi: Gaganyaan, India’s first human spaceflight mission, remains on course, although the timeline for its first uncrewed test flight is under continuous review, raising the possibility that the country’s maiden crewed programme could move beyond its stated target. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman V. Narayanan indicated on Saturday (June 27) that while engineers are striving for an uncrewed launch by the end of 2026, the final schedule depends entirely on technical progress and safety assessments and could be pushed back to the third quarter of 2027, reported The Indian Express.Speaking at the 17th annual Air Chief Marshal L.M. Katre Memorial Lecture, organised by the Air Force Association at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Management Academy, Bengaluru, Narayanan said that human spaceflights demand uncompromising safety standards and emphasised the need for a human-rated launch vehicle and multiple safeguards to ensure astronauts’ safety during every phase of the flight. He reiterated that three uncrewed missions are planned before the first crewed launch, with each step shaping the trajectory of the programme.Despite the persisting uncertainty regarding the mission’s timelines, Narayanan affirmed that preparations have progressed substantially. According to The New Indian Express, he claimed that more than 8,000 ground tests has been conducted for the Gaganyaan, with more than 60 major tests and demonstrations carried out during the financial year 2025-26 alone. He added that ISRO is focused on preparing for the first non-crewed missions, assuring that the programme was on track in spite of demanding technical requirements.Highlighting India’s growing expertise in human spaceflight operations, the ISRO chief said Indian scientists played a significant role in identifying a technical issue before the Axiom Mission 4 launch in June 2025 on a SpaceX rocket, leading to postponement of the programme until the fault was rectified. “It was Indian scientists, including myself and my team, and the director of Human Space Flight Centre D.K. Singh was also there at the Kennedy Space Centre, who insisted that the launch should be stopped and it was stopped,” Narayanan said, as per the Indian Express report. He added, “We have proven to the world that the Indian education system is second to none, that the Indian training is second to none even if we have to hold back a human-rated rocket at the last minute.”Narayanan further stated that the organisation has found out the causes behind recent Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) setbacks and is working towards full restoration of operational capability, while efforts to strengthen the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NavIC) continue. “I am happy to inform you that we have understood everything and we are in the process of coming back. If you say you have jumped 98% of the distance means you have fallen in the well. A space mission is zero or 100%. We have to be 100 on 100,” he said. The chairman also claimed that ISRO satellites had “a key role in the success of Operation Sindoor” last year.