The 'Gangayaan' mission of ISRO has been a very significant nationwide undertaking ever since its announcement in 2018. The mission would have been India's first-ever manned spaceflight initiative.

Earlier, it was anticipated that the mission would be launched in the year 2022. However, after being thrown off track by the Covid-19 pandemic, the mission has been delayed by two more years and will be launched in 2024.

During the preparations, four of the candidates were chosen from the Indian Air Force for participation in the Gangayaan mission. The training procedure of these astronauts took a heavy toll due to the pandemic.

Reportedly, as per the Gangayaan programme, a manned spacecraft will be launched to a height of 15 km from the earth's surface. Thereafter the crew capsules will return to earth using parachutes. ISRO will send test spacecrafts before the mission to simulate similar scenarios like the manned mission.