India Completes Second Test for Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Mission Launching 2027

India's space agency ISRO successfully completed its second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) on April 10 at Sriharikota, lifting a simulated crew module via Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter to 3 kilometers altitude before releasing it to test landing systems. The test advances India's Gaganyaan program, which aims to send Indian astronauts to space for the first time, scheduled for 2027. This milestone positions India among only four nations capable of human spaceflight—joining the United States, Russia, and China—representing a major achievement in space exploration and national capability. The successful test series validates critical safety systems for crew recovery and landing procedures essential before crewed missions commence.