NEW DELHI, Oct 21India successfully carried out the first rocket launch as part of its own upcoming manned orbital mission, according to a live broadcast on the organization's website.
The rocket launch, previously scheduled for 8.00 (5.30 Moscow time), was at the last moment postponed to 8.30 (06.00 Moscow time), and a little later — to 8.45 (06.15 Moscow time). During the launch, the lower stage engines started working, but after a few seconds they went out. As the head of the Indian Space Agency, Sridhara Somnath, clarified, at first the launch had to be postponed due to weather conditions, and later the on-board computer performing the automatic launch suspended it due to problems.
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The new launch time was set for 10.00 (7.30 Moscow time). As part of it, the crew module successfully undocked from the rocket and splashed down in the Bay of Bengal.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2018 approved the mission to send the national crew into orbit. It was named «Gaganyan». According to the program, before the first manned flight, two must take place without an astronaut on board.
As part of the first such flight, the crew module must separate from the rocket at an altitude of 17 kilometers and descend into the water. Once it lands, Indian Navy personnel from the Bay of Bengal will pick it up.
The timing of the launch of the first manned mission depends on the success of the test flights, with the country's space agency noting that the mission is on track to launch in 2025.