India to launch first manned spaceship in 2013

India 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 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.