India is all set to launch its first-ever human spaceflight, which will be under the ‘Make in India’ mission. Gaganyaan mission is India’s ambitious program aimed at sending astronauts to space. As a part of its ongoing mission, India is working to send a three-person crew on a three-day journey. It will aim to travel 400 km to Lower Earth Orbit (LEO) and bring the crew members safely back to Earth. The Government of India has approved two unmanned missions and one manned mission as part of this program. The mission is projected to occur in 2026, the success of which will make India a member of an elite group of countries (USA, Russia, and China) with human spaceflight capabilities.
Main objectives of the mission
The Gaganyaan mission, spearheaded by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is a truly expansive and collaborative undertaking. It relies on partnerships with diverse entities, including research labs, Indian universities, and industries. The mission inhibits the following objectives:
Undertaking human space flights
The immediate aim of this mission is to demonstrate the indigenous capability to undertake human spaceflight.
Space Exploration
It will lay the foundation for a sustained Indian human space exploration programme for the future.
Conduct Experiments
As part of the mission, Gaganyaan will also encourage and support micro-gravity experiments.
Functioning of Gaganyaan
Launch Vehicle
This mission will use a human-rated version of ISRO’s most powerful rocket, the LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark III), generally referred to as HLVM3. This rocket has been reconfigured with an enhanced safety system, including a crew escape system.
Crew Escape System (CES)
This critical safety system is designed to quickly pull the crew module and astronauts away from the rocket in the event of an emergency, whether on the launch pad or during the initial ascent phase.
Orbital Module
After reaching space, the mission will utilize an orbital module, comprising two main components: the Crew Module and the Service Module.
Mission Profile
Ascent- The HVLM3 will launch the orbital module into a Lower Earth Orbit (LEO) at an altitude of 400 kms.
Orbital Phase- The Orbital module will orbit the Earth for a duration of around 3 days. During this phase astronauts will experiment and live in microgravity.
Descent and re-entry- The orbital module will de-boost from orbit. The crew module will be separated from the service module and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. It’s designed with a robust Thermal Protection System (TPS) to withstand the heat of the Earth.
Splashdown and Recovery – After re-entry, a series of parachutes will deploy to slow down the crew module for a controlled splashdown in designated Indian waters, the Arabian Sea.
Conclusion
Essentially, Gaganyaan is a complex undertaking that involves developing and rigorously testing a human-rated launch vehicle, a habitable spacecraft with life support, and a robust crew escape and recovery system to ensure the safety of the Indian astronauts.
References
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