ISRO achieved a successful launch of its unmanned test flight for the ‘Gaganyaan’ mission, India’s inaugural human spaceflight endeavor. The mission, after briefly halting the lift-off due to a ground computer anomaly, proceeded smoothly. ISRO’s Chief, S Somnath, explained that the mission’s primary objective was to demonstrate the effectiveness of the crew escape system. He noted that the vehicle reached speeds slightly exceeding the sound barrier before the crew escape system was engaged. This successful test marks a significant step in India’s aspiration for human space travel, laying the groundwork for future endeavors in the Gaganyaan program.