BENGALURU: The Indian Human Spaceflight Programme (HSP) is only in the preparatory stage and a Comprehensive Vision Document for it will be ready in a month, said Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Sivan.
Responding to queries from newspersons on the status of India’s proposed programme, Sivan said ISRO was developing critical technologies presently and demonstrating them. The Crew Escape System Test conducted on July 5 along with five other tests were recent initiatives, he said.
“There is an internal document in this connection with HSP. From 2004 onwards, the document is there and we are refining it,” he added.
Asked what had to be revised in the document, Sivan said, “Technology had changed in the last 13 years and our whole perception has changed.” On the steps that need to be taken after the document is ready, the Chairman said, “It has to be reviewed. The process of sharpening it had to take place. We will then have to interact with all our stakeholders, the IAF, HAL, industry and academia.” Asked about a timeframe for Space tourism to take off, Sivan said that India first needed a vehicle to go to space. “It will take around 15 years for it to happen,” the ISRO Chairman said.