SETTING the stage for its planned mission, Gaganyaan, to take Indian astronauts into space by 2024, the Indian Space Research Organisation successfully carried out Saturday, after overcoming a technical glitch, a crucial test of the crew escape system.

The launch of the mission, Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission (TV-D1), scheduled for 8 am, was delayed due to weather factors and a snag in the rocket’s ignition detected at 8.45 am put the mission on hold. However, scientists quickly identified and corrected the “anomaly” and return to the launchpad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota for a launch at 10 am.