Indian Human Spaceflight Programme: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:31, 30 April 2025

Revision as of 01:39, 30 April 2025

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The trials for crewed space missions began in 2007 with the 600 kg [[Space Capsule Recovery Experiment]] (SRE), launched using the [[Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle]] (PSLV) rocket, and safely returned to Earth 12 days later. This was followed by the Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment and the [[ISRO Pad Abort Test|Pad Abort Test]] in 2018. This enables India to develop heat-resistant materials, technology, and procedures necessary for human space travel.

As per the memorandum of understanding (MoU), [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]] (DRDO) will provide support for the Human Space Mission with critical human-centric systems and technologies like space-grade food, crew healthcare, radiation measurement and protection, parachutes for the safe recovery of the crew module, fire suppression systems, etc.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/science/gaganyaan-drdo-to-provide-special-space-food-and-emergency-survival-kit-for-isros-manned-mission/1888944/|title=Gaganyaan: DRDO to provide special space food and emergency survival kit for ISRO's manned mission|date=2020-03-04|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-06}}</ref> [[Defence Food Research Laboratory]] (DFRL) has worked on the [[space food]] for the crew and has been conducting trials on a [[G-suit]] for astronauts as well.<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2016/dec/03/def-lab-works-on-food-for-spaceflight-crew-1545121.html| title=Def lab works on food for spaceflight crew| work=The New Indian Express| access-date=2018-08-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report-dosa-or-dum-aloo-what-will-india-s-first-astronauts-eat-1360741| title=Dosa or dum aloo. What will India's first astronauts eat?| date=2010-03-19| work=DNA| access-date=2018-08-18| language=en-US}}</ref> A prototype called '"Advanced Crew Escape Suit'" weighing 13&nbsp;kg and built by Sure Safety (India) Private Limited has been tested and performance verified.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://epaper.dnaindia.com/story.aspx?id=74871&boxid=3575&ed_date=2015-12-02&ed_code=1310005&ed_page=16|title=AHMEDABAD DNA G & G [PG 16] : Vadodara-based company develops space suit for ISRO|website=epaper.dnaindia.com|access-date=2018-08-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819011202/http://epaper.dnaindia.com/story.aspx?id=74871&boxid=3575&ed_date=2015-12-02&ed_code=1310005&ed_page=16|archive-date=19 August 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/gujarats-firms-helping-isro-shape-up-manned-space-mission/| title=Gujarat's firms helping ISRO shape up 'manned space mission' |date=2015-11-03 |work=The Indian Express| access-date=2018-08-18 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Citation| last=IndiaTV|title=Gujarat's Firm Develops India's First Space Suit for ISRO {{!}} Make in India|date=2016-02-12|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LNpD7CXwMY|access-date=2018-08-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| url=http://164.100.47.190/loksabhaquestions/annex/10/AU213.pdf| title=Government of India, Department of Space, Unstarred Question number 213 LokSabha| date=16 November 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818202916/http://164.100.47.190/loksabhaquestions/annex/10/AU213.pdf| archive-date=18 August 2018| access-date=19 August 2018}}</ref> While the crew module is designed to carry a total of 3 passengers, the maiden crewed mission may only have one or two crews on board.<ref name="HTJan2020">{{Cite news|author=Anonna Dutt|date=2020-01-08|title=India's first manned mission Gaganyaan may take 1 astronaut|newspaper=Hindustan Times|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-s-first-manned-mission-gaganyaan-may-take-1-astronaut/story-nh095IVken3trSu0V1wVnK.html|access-date=2020-01-13}}</ref>

Having shown success in all preliminary tests,<ref>{{cite press release |title=ISRO to send first Indian into Space by 2022 as announced by PM, says Dr Jitendra Singh |url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=183103 |publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India |agency= Department of Space |date=28 August 2018}}</ref> the decisive push for the creation of the Human Spaceflight Programme took place in 2017,<ref name="Kadursrinivas 2017">{{cite web |last1=Rao |first1=Mukund Kadursrinivas |last2=Murthi |first2=Sridhara, K. R. |last3=Prasad M. Y. S. |title=THE DECISION FOR INDIAN HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT PROGRAMME - POLITICAL PERSPECTIVES, NATIONAL RELEVANCE AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES |url=http://eprints.nias.res.in/1359/1/2017-MK-Rao-IAC-17-B3-1-9-IndianHumanSpaceFlightFullPaper.pdf |publisher= International Astronautical Federation}}</ref> and it was accepted and formally announced by the Prime Minister on August 15, 2018.<ref>{{cite news |title=Indian will take national flag to space on board Gaganyaan by 2022, says PM Narendra Modi in Independence Day speech |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indian-will-take-national-flag-to-space-on-board-gaganyaan-by-2022-says-pm-narendra-modi-in-independence-day-speech/story-ctNAmDef79gbpj7OHrU8dP.html |work=Hindustan Times |date=15 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref> The funding is approximately Rs 10,000 crore. The testing phase was expected to begin in December 2020, and the first crewed mission was to be undertaken in December 2021.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://thewire.in/space/cabinet-clears-rs-10000-crore-for-indian-spaceflight-programme-target-is-2022| title=Cabinet Okays ISRO's Human Spaceflight Programme for Rs 10,000 Crore| website=The Wire| access-date=2018-12-30}}</ref> However, on June 11, 2020, it was announced that the overall schedule for the ''Gaganyaan'' launches had been postponed due to the impact of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India]], in turn revising the timetable for the HSP.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Kumar|first=Chethan|date=11 June 2020|title=Gaganyaan mission: No Gaganyaan unmanned flight this year |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/no-gaganyaan-unmanned-flight-this-year/articleshow/76315319.cms|access-date=2020-06-13|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> As of December 2022, the first uncrewed test flight is scheduled to launch no earlier than mid-2024,<ref name="toi-20210722" /> with the uncrewed second and crewed third flights to follow afterward.<ref name="tp-20221204" /> As per ISRO, the initial review process is complete for food, potable water, emergency first aid kits, and health monitoring systems for the ''Gaganyaan'' mission until March 16, 2021.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}} ISRO and the [[CNES]] joint working group on the Human Spaceflight Programme are collaborating on [[space medicine]] for ''Gaganyaan'' project.<ref>{{Cite web|date=20 March 2021|title=India, France Working On 3rd Joint Space Mission, Says ISRO Chairman|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-france-working-on-3rd-joint-space-mission-says-isro-chairman-k-sivan-2395047|access-date=2021-03-21|website=NDTV}}</ref>

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In the next phase, enhancements will lead to the development of a small habitat, allowing spaceflight durations of 30–40 days at once. Further advances based on experience will subsequently lead to development of a [[space station]].<ref>{{cite news| title=We're talking of habitation on moon, Mars...we have to know how to adapt: ISRO chief K. Sivan| url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/isro-chief-k-sivan-interview-habitation-on-moon-mars-5545632/}}</ref>

On October 7, 2016, Vikram Sarabhai Space Center Director K. Sivan stated that ISRO was gearing up to conduct a critical '"crew bailout test' called the [[ISRO Pad Abort Test]] to see how fast and effectively the crew module could be released safely in the event of an emergency. The tests were conducted successfully on July 5, 2018, at [[Satish Dhawan Space Centre]], Sriharikota. This was the first of a series of tests to qualify a crew escape system technology.<ref name="isro.gov.in">{{Cite web|url=https://www.isro.gov.in/hi/update/05-jul-2018/successful-flight-testing-of-crew-escape-system-technology-demonstrator| title= Successful flight testing of crew escape system technology demonstrator - ISRO |website=www.isro.gov.in |language=en| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705234350/https://www.isro.gov.in/hi/update/05-jul-2018/successful-flight-testing-of-crew-escape-system-technology-demonstrator| archive-date=5 July 2018| access-date=2018-07-05}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite news| title=ISRO's first 'pad abort' test, critical for future human space mission, successful| url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/isros-first-pad-abort-test-successful/article24336860.ece}}</ref> Parachute tests were scheduled before the end of 2019, and multiple in-flight abort tests were planned starting mid-2020.<ref name = "AstrotalkUK">{{Cite web|title = Episode 90 – An update on ISRO's activities with S Somanath and R Umamaheshwaran|url = https://astrotalkuk.org/episode-90-an-update-on-isros-activities-with-s-somanath-and-r-umamaheshwaran/|date = 24 October 2019|access-date = 30 October 2019|publisher = AstrotalkUK}}</ref>{{update inline|date=March 2024}}

India will not use any animals for life support system testing but robots resembling humans will be used.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/isro-not-to-fly-living-being-before-actual-manned-space-mission-official-1916654|title=ISRO Not To Fly Living Being Before Actual Manned Space Mission: Official|work=NDTV.com|access-date=2018-09-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=ISRO to use a humanoid, not animal, for Gaganyaan tests|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/before-humans-humanoids-to-do-experiments-in-space/articleshow/67580180.cms}}</ref> ISRO is targeting more than 99.8% reliability for its crew escape system.<ref>{{cite news|title=Suits from Vadodara, parachutes from Agra: Inside ISRO's plan to launch India's first astronauts|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/suits-from-vadodara-parachutes-from-agra-inside-isros-plan-to-launch-indias-first-astronauts/articleshow/67584640.cms}}</ref>