Gaganyaan: India launches test flight ahead of sending crew into space

India's space agency has carried out the first in a series of tests flights ahead of its planned mission to take astronauts into space in 2025. The Gaganyaan spacecraft was launched at 10:00 local time (04:30GMT) on Saturday from Sriharikota. This was the day's second attempt - the first was put on hold five seconds before the scheduled launch time. The test was conducted to demonstrate whether the crew could safely escape the rocket in case it malfunctioned. "I am very happy to announce the successful accomplishment of the TV-D1 (Test Vehicle Demonstration 1) mission," S Somanath, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), said after the launch as his colleagues cheered and applauded.