During a program organized by the Astronautical Society of India in Ahmedabad, ISRO Chairman S. Somanath emphasized that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) remains committed to its Chandrayaan series until an Indian astronaut sets foot on the Moon. He mentioned the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 last August at the lunar south pole, marking India’s pioneering achievement in lunar exploration. Somanath stated that data collection from Chandrayaan-3 is underway, with scientific publications in progress. The focus now shifts towards advancing technologies necessary for manned lunar missions, including round-trip travel capabilities. He discussed ISRO’s upcoming endeavors, including the Gaganyaan project, India’s first human spaceflight mission. This project entails multiple phases, starting with uncrewed missions, a test vehicle flight, and an airdrop test scheduled for April 24. Somanath outlined the timeline for subsequent uncrewed missions leading to the manned mission by the end of the following year, provided all goes according to plan. Additionally, he highlighted ISRO’s recent breakthrough in rocket engine technology with the development of a lightweight Carbon-Carbon (C-C) nozzle. This innovation, tested at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, is set to be integrated into the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), enhancing its payload capacity. The C-C nozzle offers advantages over traditional metal nozzles, including reduced weight and improved operating efficiency at higher temperatures. ISRO’s continuous strides in technological innovation underscore its commitment to advancing space exploration capabilities.