Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced an ambitious mission of sending an Indian astronaut to space by 2022 on board 'Gaganyaan'. The mission, he said in his Independence Day address, would be launched using the Indian Space ResearchOrganisation's (ISRO) own capabilities, and on successful completion, make India the fourth nation in the world to do so.
"We have resolved that by 2022, when India celebrates 75 years of Independence or maybe even before that, certainly some of our young boys and girls will unfurl the Tricolour in space... I feel proud to announce that very soon as part of our 'Manned Space' mission, we shall be sending an Indian into space. This will be done through the pursuit of our scientists, and we will proudly find ourselves as the fourth such nation to have launched a successful Manned Space Mission," PM Modi said from the Red Fort.