Spaceflight

At Aero India 2009 the Indian Space Research Organisation unveiled its orbital vehicle concept that consists of a crew module for three astronauts and a service module for mission management.

Launched by an ISRO Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark 2 rocket for a seven-day mission, the space agency is developing its launch abort and life support systems.

ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair says it might fly on the planned GSLV Mark 3 and "if the necessary funding comes through we hope we can have such a mission in 2015. The next target could be the Moon."