Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman G. Madhavan Nair said on Monday that his nation plans to send a two-person spacecraft into space by 2015.
“In seven years, we must have a manned flight after three successful unmanned flights,” he said. “A small core team is already working on it and in six months we should get full approval from the Centre.”
India will use an upgraded version of the Geo-Synchronous Launch Vehicle, which on Monday launched 10 satellites into polar orbit. The Asian Age has more about the launch and India’s plans for human space exploration and a robotic lunar rover.
It was my understanding that it was a PSLV that launched 10 satellites. Although, since GSLV = PSLV + 2 hyperhol boosters, a PSLV flight adds to the flight heritage of the World’s Goofiest Space Launcher to an extent, and thus works to help the manned program.