India [ Images ] would launch its first manned space flights by sending two astronauts in an orbit in a Russian spaceship in 2013, according to reports.

For this, the Indian Space Research Organisation is to finance the acquisition of a Soyuz spaceship and have its astronauts trained by a Russian commander. The Russian cosmonaut would lead the two-member crew on an independent space flight lasting several days, Voice of Russia [ Images ] radio reported.

Quoting deputy chief of Russian space agency (Roskosmos) Vitaly Davidov the radio said the flight of Indian astronauts would not involve a mission to the International Space Station [ Images ].