More than 400 scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) worked day and night to support Operation Sindoor, ISRO chairperson V. Narayanan said on Tuesday. He explained that the space agency used earth observation and communication satellites to provide important data for the country’s national security during the mission.

Narayanan was speaking at the 52nd National Management Convention of the All India Management Association (AIMA). He said that ISRO’s satellites functioned perfectly 24/7, helping meet all the mission’s requirements. Operation Sindoor also highlighted how important the space sector has become in modern conflicts. The mission saw the use of drones, loitering munitions, and air defence systems, including India’s indigenously developed Akash Teer.

Talking about the Gaganyaan project, India’s first human spaceflight program, Narayanan revealed that ISRO has already completed 7,700 ground tests, with another 2,300 planned before sending humans to space. The goal is to launch India’s maiden crewed space mission by 2027. As part of this project, ISRO will first conduct three uncrewed missions, with the first expected in December. The agency has also secured approvals for two human missions.

India’s ambitions in space go even further. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target for ISRO to build India’s own space station by 2035 and to land an Indian astronaut on the moon by 2040. Meanwhile, ISRO also shared a video of a crucial parachute test for Gaganyaan.

In the footage, a test capsule attached to a sled races down a track, releasing a 5.8-metre parachute. This parachute is designed to slow down and stabilize the crew module as it re-enters Earth’s atmosphere. Such tests are vital to ensure astronauts can return safely from space missions. With these achievements and ambitious plans, ISRO is steadily moving closer to placing India among the world’s leading space powers.