Why in news?
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced the definitive timeline for Gaganyaan mission.
What is ISRO's plan?
- ISRO has announced its first manned mission which is set to be a reality by 2022.
- By this, an Indian astronaut will go on a space odyssey by 2022 on board ‘Gaganyaan’.
- ISRO has roped in Indian Air Force pilots to identify the first set of astronauts for a human space flight.
What are the works in progress?
- Launch vehicle - The launch vehicle for this mission is planned to carry heavy payloads into space.
- The spacecraft carrying human beings, called crew module, is likely to weigh in excess of 5 to 6 tonnes.
- For this purpose, GSLV Mk-III (or) Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3) is being developed.
- This comes with cryogenic engine, with capabilities to deliver much heavier payloads much deeper into space.
- Re-entry & Recovery tech - ISRO has already tested the GSLV Mk-III with experimental crew module.
- It came back to Earth after being taken to an altitude of 126 km into space.
- This this known as Crew module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE).
- Crew Escape System (CES) - ISRO had tested the Crew Escape System, a mechanism for an advance warning.
- System warns the crew module of anything going wrong with the rocket and pulls it away to a safe distance.
- After this, it can be landed either on sea or on land with the help of attached parachutes.
- Life support - The Environmental Control & Life Support System (ECLSS) is meant for humans inside to live comfortably.
- It ensures that conditions inside the crew module are suitable for living.
- The ECLSS -
- maintains a steady cabin pressure and air composition
- removes carbon dioxide and other harmful gases
- controls temperature and humidity
- manages parameters like fire detection and suppression, emergency support
- takes care of food and water management
- Astronaut training - ISRO still plans to set up a permanent facility like a foreign facility, to train candidates for the first manned mission.
- Candidates would be trained for at least two years in living in zero gravity.
- It would also include dealing with a variety of unexpected experiences of living in space.
What are the challenges?
- A manned space mission is very different from all other missions that ISRO has so far completed.
- In terms of complexity and ambition, even the missions to the Moon (Chandrayaan) and Mars (Mangalyaan) are nowhere in comparison.
- For a manned mission, the key distinguishing capabilities that ISRO has had to develop include
- the ability to bring the spacecraft back to Earth after flight
- building a spacecraft in which astronauts can live in Earth-like conditions in space
- Over the years, ISRO has successfully tested many of the technologies that are required.
- However, many other challenging ones are still to be developed and tested.
Source: Indian Express
