In the news

Prime Minister announced the astronaut designates for India’s inaugural crewed spaceflight, Gaganyaan, slated for a 2025 launch.

About Gaganyaan Mission

The Gaganyaan Mission is India’s initiative to demonstrate human spaceflight capabilities by sending a crew of 4 members into a 400 km Low Earth Orbit.
It aims to demonstrate India’s indigenous capability in undertaking human space flights, with an immediate goal of executing a manned mission.
GSLV Mk III, also known as LVM-3, will be used as a launch vehicle in Gaganyaan mission.

Gaganyaan

Human-Rated LVM3: A modified version of ISRO’s LVM3 serves as the launch vehicle, equipped with Crew Escape System (CES) and an Orbital Module to ensure crew safety.
Orbital Module (OM):

1. Crew Module (CM): Provides a habitable space for crew members, featuring a double-walled rigid construction and essential life support systems.
2. Service Module (SM): Supports the Crew Module in orbit, housing propulsion, thermal, and power systems.

Crew Escape System (CES): Facilitates emergency escape mechanisms for astronauts during critical phases of the mission, ensuring their safety.
Life Support System: Ensures a conducive environment for crew members in space, addressing physiological needs and emergency provisions.

Testing Phase: Included Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT) and Pad Abort Test (PAT), crucial for validating safety mechanisms and system performance.
Unmanned Missions: Technology demonstration and safety verification precede the manned mission, involving advanced tests and flight trials. Vyommitra AI humanoid underwent tests for this mission.
Manned Mission: Culminates in executing the human spaceflight module of Gaganyaan, following successful unmanned missions.

Technological Advancement: Propels India towards future technological capabilities, fostering affordable space programs and scientific exploration.
Youth Inspiration: Inspires youth towards careers in science and technology, igniting innovation and creativity in space science.
Diplomatic Collaboration: Opens avenues for international cooperation in space exploration, enhancing diplomatic ties and knowledge exchange.
Scientific Breakthrough: Enables groundbreaking discoveries in medicine, material science, and biology through microgravity experiments.
Economic Growth: Stimulates economic development, technology spin-offs, and job creation, contributing to India’s overall progress.

Indigenous Technology: Reliance on indigenous technology necessitates complex research and development efforts, ensuring program safety.
Space Transportation Vehicle: Development of customized launch vehicles poses challenges due to payload constraints and weight limitations.
Training and Simulation: Lack of critical space training facilities necessitates dependence on other space agencies, augmenting challenges.
Regenerative Environment: Creation of self-sustaining life support systems in space remains a daunting task, requiring innovative solutions.
Crew Safety: Mitigating risks associated with crew safety, including psychological and physiological effects of space travel, is imperative.

The Gaganyaan Mission epitomizes India’s leap towards space exploration, encapsulating aspirations of scientific discovery, technological innovation, and international collaboration.
Amidst challenges and complexities, India stands poised to script a new chapter in its space odyssey, inspiring generations and propelling towards the frontiers of the cosmos.