Gaganyaan Mission

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Why in News?

India’s human spaceflight programme Gaganyaan has seen repeated timeline revisions, with the first uncrewed mission now expected by March 2026, while the first crewed mission is likely by late 2027 or early 2028.

Description:

  • Target Orbit: Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at an altitude of approximately 400 km.
  • Mission Duration: 3 days (planned for the first crewed flight).
  • Crew Capacity: Up to 3 astronauts (officially called Gaganyaatris or Vyomanauts).
  • Launch Vehicle: LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3), formerly known as GSLV Mk III. It has been “human-rated” to meet safety standards.
  • Nodal Agency: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
  • Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota.

Spacecraft Components:

The Gaganyaan spacecraft, known as the Orbital Module (OM), consists of two main parts:

1.    Crew Module (CM): The habitable space for astronauts. It features a double-walled construction with a Thermal Protection System (TPS) to withstand extreme heat during re-entry.

2.   Service Module (SM): An unpressurized structure containing the propulsion system, solar panels, and batteries to provide power and thermal control during the mission.

3.   Crew Escape System (CES): A critical safety mechanism designed to pull the Crew Module away from the launch vehicle in case of a mid-flight emergency.

The Astronauts (Gaganyaatris):

The four designated crew members are all experienced Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter pilots:

1.    Group Captain Prashanth Nair

2.   Group Captain Ajit Krishnan

3.   Group Captain Angad Pratap

4.   Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla

Note: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is also slated to join a joint ISRO-NASA mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2026, which will serve as a precursor to the Gaganyaan mission.

Notable Technologies:

  • Vyommitra: A female-looking humanoid robot designed to simulate human functions, operate switches, and communicate with ground control to test the environment before humans go.
  • ECLSS: The Environmental Control and Life Support System is being developed indigenously to manage oxygen, carbon dioxide, temperature, and waste.
  • Splashdown: The mission will conclude with the Crew Module landing in the Indian Ocean, where the Indian Navy will lead recovery operations.

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