The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is on the brink of a monumental achievement with its Gaganyaan mission, which aims to demonstrate India’s human spaceflight capability. The mission will launch a crew of three astronauts to an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission, culminating in a safe landing in Indian sea waters.
The Role of Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC)
The Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) spearheads the Gaganyaan programme, coordinating activities across various ISRO centres, research labs, academia, and industry in India. HSFC focuses on high standards of reliability and human safety, undertaking R&D in new technology areas like life support systems, Human Factors Engineering, Bioastronautics, crew training, and human rating & certification. These advancements are crucial for future human spaceflight activities, including space station building and interplanetary missions to the Moon, Mars, and near-Earth asteroids.
Key Components of the Gaganyaan Mission
1. Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3)
ISRO’s proven LVM3 rocket is reconfigured to meet human rating requirements, renamed the Human Rated LVM3 (HLVM3). The HLVM3 is designed to launch the Orbital Module (OM) to a Low Earth Orbit of 400 km. It includes a Crew Escape System (CES) powered by quick-acting, high-burn-rate solid motors to ensure the crew’s safety during emergencies.
2. Orbital Module (OM)
The OM comprises the Crew Module (CM) and Service Module (SM). The CM is the habitable space with Earth-like conditions for the crew, featuring a double-walled construction for pressurization and thermal protection. It houses life support systems, avionics, and deceleration systems for re-entry. The SM supports the CM in orbit, containing thermal, propulsion, power, and avionics systems.
New Technologies for Human Safety
Human safety is paramount in the Gaganyaan mission. ISRO is developing and realizing various new technologies, including engineering systems and human-centric systems, to ensure the crew’s well-being.
Crew Training for Gaganyaan
An extensive training programme has been established at the Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru. This includes classroom instruction, physical fitness training, simulator sessions, and flight suit training. The modules cover academic courses, Gaganyaan flight systems, microgravity familiarization, aero-medical training, recovery and survival training, and crew training simulators. Periodic flying practice and yoga are also part of the curriculum to ensure the astronauts are well-prepared for the mission.
Demonstrator Missions
To ensure the mission’s success, various precursor missions will demonstrate the Technology Preparedness Levels before the actual human spaceflight. These include Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT), Pad Abort Test (PAT), and Test Vehicle (TV) flights. Unmanned missions will precede manned missions to prove the safety and reliability of all systems.
The Gaganyaan Vision
The Gaganyaan project is a testament to India’s in-house expertise, the experience of Indian industry, and the intellectual capabilities of Indian academia and research institutions. By incorporating cutting-edge technologies from international agencies, the mission sets a precedent for future collaborations in space exploration. The project aims not only to achieve human spaceflight but also to pave the way for sustained human spaceflight activities, such as rendezvous and docking, space station building, and interplanetary missions.
Gaganyaan is poised to mark a significant milestone in India’s space exploration journey. With the combined efforts of ISRO, HSFC, Indian industry, academia, and international collaboration, the mission is set to demonstrate India’s capability to send humans to space and bring them back safely. Following the successful establishment of the Aditya-L1 mission in a halo orbit around the L1 point to study the Sun and its impact on space weather, Gaganyaan stands as the next significant mission for ISRO. As the nation eagerly anticipates these historic events, the Gaganyaan mission symbolizes India’s growing prowess in space technology and its commitment to advancing human space exploration.
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