India's Landmark Achievement: The Inaugural Crewed Space Flight 2024

India, a nation renowned for its prowess in space exploration, accomplished a significant milestone in 2024 by becoming the fourth country in the world to independently launch humans into space. Led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), this historic mission marks India's inaugural crewed space flight, placing it in the esteemed company of Russia, the United States, and China. Utilizing a variant of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), the mission involves a 3.7-ton autonomous capsule capable of carrying a three-person crew. The astronauts orbit the Earth at an altitude of 248 miles (400 km) for a duration of seven days before safely splashing down in the Bay of Bengal. The project, with a total cost of approximately 124 billion rupees ($2.67 billion), showcases India's dedication to advancing its space exploration capabilities. With future iterations of the spacecraft, longer missions, including rendezvous and docking capabilities with space stations and orbital platforms, will be made possible.