In a step closer to making India's maiden human mission to space a reality, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced the setting up of a Human Space Flight Centre in Bengaluru with Unnikrishnan Nair as its head.

Making the announcement in Bengaluru on Friday, ISRO Chairman K. Sivan said, R. Hutton will head the Gaganyaan project, that will send three astronauts to orbit the Earth for three to seven days at about 400 kilometers. The Rs. 10,000-crore project is slated to happen before December 2021 and will be preceded by two unmanned trials.

The space agency has tied up with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and L&T among other firms to manufacture the industry-made PSLV launch vehicles.

Chandrayaan-2, the lunar lander-rover mission, has been planned towards April end, Mr. Sivan said.