THE SPACEX CEO ELON MUSK CONGRATULATED Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

The SpaceX CEO Elon Musk congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for successfully conducting the third long-duration hot test of the Vikas Engine, part of the Gaganyaan program.

The engine was fired for 240 seconds at the engine test facility of the ISRO Propulsion Complex(IPRC) in Tamil Nadu's Mahendragiri.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted to congratulate the ISRO which also had an Indian Flag on it. This is an extremely proud moment for the country and its people.

On 14th July 2021, ” the ISRO has successfully conducted the hot test of the liquid propellant Vikas Engine for the core L110 liquid stage of the human-rated GSLV MKIII vehicle, as a part of the engine qualification requirements for the #Gaganyaan Programme.”

This was the final testing of one of the three stages of the launch vehicle which will be used in the mission to carry humans to Space. The foreseen program of ISRO was announced by the Prime Minister on the 15th of August 2018. Initially, it was aimed to launch human spacecraft before the 75th anniversary of India's Independence on 15th August 2022. However, ISRO's heavy-lift launcher GSLV MKIII has been recognized for this mission.

Four Indian astronauts have undergone generic space flight training in Russia's Zvyozdny Gorodok city which ended in March this year. Two flight surgeons are presently getting their training in Russia and France.

Union Minister of State (Independent charge) of Space said at the beginning of this year on February 2021 that the first unnamed mission is planned for December 2021 and the second one in 2022-2023 followed by a human space flight demonstration.

As per reports, Elon Musk's SpaceX is planning to partner with local companies to manufacture satellite communications equipment in India. Space X is also planning to launch its high-speed Starlink satellite broadband services in India this year.

On the other hand, Richard Branson became the first billionaire to go into space last Sunday. He traveled on board Virgin Galactic's first flew crewed test flight. Jeff Bezos is also expected to go to space later this month in Blue Origin's New Shepard vehicle.