The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday successfully conducted the third long-duration hot test of the liquid propellant Vikas engine for the Gaganyaan programme, the country's first manned mission to space.
The test was done for the core L110 liquid stage of the human rated GSLV MkIII vehicle, as part of the engine qualification requirements for the Gaganyaan programme, the space agency said in a statement.
The engine was fired for 240 seconds at the test facility of ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, said the statement.
The performance of the engine met the test objectives and the engine parameters were closely matching with the predictions during the entire duration of the test, it said.
The objective of the Gaganyaan programme is to demonstrate the capability to send humans to low earth orbit onboard an Indian launch vehicle and bring them back to earth.
Union Minister of State (Independent charge) of Space, Jitendra Singh said in February this year that the first unmanned mission is planned in December 2021 and the second unmanned one in 2022-23 followed by the human spaceflight demonstration.
Four Indian astronaut-candidates have already undergone generic space flight training in Russia as part of the Gaganyaan programme.
ISRO's heavy-lift launcher GSLV Mk III has been identified for the mission.
Formal announcement of the Gaganyaan programme was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address on August 15, 2018.
The initial target was to launch the human spaceflight before the 75th anniversary of India's independence on August 15, 2022.
ISRO is also taking the help of French, Russian and US space agencies in some of the crucial activities and supply of components, sources said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Elon Musk's SpaceX Falcon 9 Successfully Launches THE ISRO GSAT-20 Satellite Here's Why Elon Musk's SpaceX Steps In To Launch India's GSAT-N2 Satellite India Plans to Build Moon-Orbiting Space Station by 2040: Report "Rama Krishna Hari": Supriya Sule On Cousin Ajit Pawar's Bitcoin Row Remark UP Polls: BJP Flags Burqa Voters, Samajwadi Party Says Cops Can't Check ID AR Rahman, Wife Saira Announce Separation After 29 Years Of Marriage Air Pollution: Celeb Lifestyle Coach Unlocks Benefits Of This Herb 'Prasad' Sold At Baba Balak Nath Temple Found Unfit For Consumption Swiggy Instamart Sending Free 'Tinday' With Some Mumbai Orders. Here's Why Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.