First manned mission to space by December 2021

ISRO Chair, Addressing Media in Bengaluru today, ISRO Chairman Dr K Sivan has said a human space centre is set up for this mission.

He said under Gaganyaan project, India is planning to send three astronauts to outer space for seven days and bring them back. Speaking on other missions the Chairman said, 332 launches are planned this year. Important among them are Chandrayaaan -2 mission to the moon in mid-April.

GSAT-20 Satellite for high bandwidth connectivity to be launched in September-October. Mr Sivan said that ISRO is conceiving a mission to Venus by 2023. The Chairman said, ISRO TV Channel will be launched by another 3-4 months. ISRO will also set up 6 incubation centres around the country to help startups to begin new ventures.

He also said that Indian land up and rover will study south-pole of the moon for the first time under Chandrayaan- 2 mission. Under the outreach programme, ISRO will invite meritorious students to ISRO fro developing Nanosatellites.