INDIA: Gaganyaan is India’s first crewed space mission that aims to send a three-member crew into low Earth orbit for up to seven days. The mission is part of India’s ambitious space exploration program and is being developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
The origin of the Gaganyaan mission dates back to 2006, when India first proposed its human spaceflight program. In 2008, ISRO established the Human Spaceflight Centre (HSFC) to oversee the development of the program.
The mission was initially planned for 2016 but faced several delays due to technical and financial issues.
But in 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi again ignited the topic and said, “Bharat ka koi beta ya beti space me swadeshi Gagnyaan se pahuchega.”
Meaning “A man or woman of Bharat will reach space with the indigenous Gaganyaan.”
If India’s gargantuan mission succeeds, It will make India the fourth country after the United States, Russia, and China to send humans into space.
Gaganyaan astronauts: Vyomnauts
The Indian astronauts selected for the Gaganyaan mission are known as Vyomnauts. This word comes from the Sanskrit word “vyom”, meaning sky.
The selection process for Vyomnauts began in 2018, and after a series of medical and psychological tests, four Indian Air Force (IAF) test pilots were chosen for the mission.
The four already selected Vyomnauts for the Gaganyaan mission are Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, Squadron Leader Ishwar Das, Squadron Leader Pankaj Tiwari, and Group Captain Satish Kumar. Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma is a former IAF pilot who flew aboard the Soviet Union’s Soyuz T-11 spacecraft in 1984 and became the first Indian to travel to space.
The Vyomnauts have undergone extensive training and preparation for the Gaganyaan mission, which includes rigorous physical, mental, and technical training. The training consists of aircraft flying, survival techniques, space medicine, and simulation exercises in zero-gravity environments.
The Vyomnauts will play a crucial role in the Gaganyaan mission as they will be responsible for operating the spacecraft and conducting experiments in space. They will also be tasked with conducting observations and experiments on the effects of microgravity on the human body.
Gagnyaan mission details
The spacecraft for the Gaganyaan mission consists of three modules: the crew module, the service module, and the launch escape system, the crew and service module form together to make orbital module.
The crew module is the spacecraft section that will carry the three astronauts, while the service module will provide propulsion and other support functions. The launch escape system is designed to ensure the crew’s safety in case of an emergency during launch.
The Gaganyaan spacecraft will be launched aboard the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III (GSLV Mk III) rocket, which is India’s most powerful rocket to date.
The GSLV Mk III rocket can carry payloads of up to 4,000 kilograms (4 tons) to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). The spacecraft will be deployed in low earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of 400 km.
On June 11, 2020, it was revealed that although the COVID-19 pandemic in India might cause a delay in the first unmanned Gaganyaan launch, the overall schedule for crewed launches is anticipated to be unaffected.
ISRO Chairman S. Somanath stated that on June 30, 2022, the first crewed mission won’t occur until at least 2024 because of safety reasons.
The objectives of the Gaganyaan mission include developing and demonstrating the capabilities of India’s human spaceflight program, including life support systems, crew escape systems and mission management.
The mission also aims to study the effects of microgravity on the human body and to conduct experiments in space medicine, biotechnology, and other fields.
The mission will take place in three stages; stage one will be uncrewed, stage two will carry a female robot named Vyommitra, and the final stage will carry Vyomnauts.
Vyommitra
Unlike other space agencies that send animals to space for experimentation, ISRO will send a robot named Vyommitra, where “Mitra” means friend. Vyommitra is a half-humanoid robot. It is named half-humanoid because it only has an upper body.
The primary purpose of Vyommitra is to serve as a technology demonstrator for the Gaganyaan mission and to pave the way for future robotic systems that could be used for more complex tasks in space. The robot is also expected to assist the Vyomnauts during the mission and provide additional safety and security.
Gaganyaan 2, Gaganyaan 3 and future missions
Gaganyaan 2 and 3 are future missions in India’s human spaceflight program that have been proposed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Gaganyaan 2 is expected to be a follow-up mission to the first Gaganyaan mission. In contrast, the details of the Gaganyaan 2 mission have yet to be announced, and it is expected to build on the experience and capabilities gained from the first mission.
Gaganyaan 3, on the other hand, is expected to be a more ambitious mission, with the goal of sending Indian astronauts to the Moon.
The ISRO has announced plans to launch a lunar mission called Chandrayaan-3 in the near future, which is expected to lay the groundwork for future manned missions to the Moon.
The Gaganyaan 3 mission is still in the planning stages, and the timeline and details of the mission have yet to be announced.
However, the ISRO has indicated that the mission will be a part of its long-term plan for human space exploration, which includes establishing a permanent human presence in space and eventually sending astronauts to Mars.
The development of Gaganyaan 2 and 3 will require significant technological and financial investments and a continued focus on developing India’s industrial and technical capabilities.
However, the success of these missions could have far-reaching implications for India’s space program, as well as its economy and society, by inspiring new generations of scientists and engineers and promoting the development of new technologies and industries.
This mission will be primarily a technological demonstration rather than a scientific mission, although it will still carry out some scientific missions. ISRO also hopes to send its orbiter (shukrayaan) to Venus soon and build an Indian space station one day.
Also Read: ISRO to Make History with Back-to-Back Moon and Sun Missions in July
