As the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) gears up for the 2023 launch of the crewed Gaganyaan mission, the excitement is palpable. Recently, the Union Minister of Atomic Energy and Space announced this ambitious plan, which is set to place India in the elite league of nations with space-faring capabilities.
About the Gaganyaan Mission
The Gaganyaan mission is the first of its kind by the ISRO. As part of the schedule, three flights will be deployed into orbit: two unmanned and one manned. The perceptive Gaganyaan system module will be carrying three Indian astronauts, including a woman, who will orbit the Earth for 5 to 7 days at an altitude of about 300-400 kilometers.
Key Components of the Gaganyaan Mission
The mission’s payload will comprise of two crucial modules. The first is the Crew Module, responsible for carrying human beings into space. The second is the Service Module, which will be powered by two liquid propellant engines and equipped with an emergency escape and mission abort mechanism.
Launching the Gaganyaan Mission
ISRO will use GSLV Mk III, also known as the LVM-3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3), a three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle, for launching the Gaganyaan owing to its optimal payload capacity. Before the final manned mission planned for 2023, two key missions are scheduled for 2022. These include a test flight for validating the performance of the crew escape system and the first unmanned mission of Gaganyaan called G1. The second unmanned mission featuring ‘Vyommitra’, a human robot developed by ISRO, is to follow.
Significance of the Gaganyaan Mission
The Gaganyaan mission holds immense significance. It is envisioned to fortify the level of science and technology in the country, fuel industrial growth, bolster international collaboration, and inspire youngsters. It will bring together numerous agencies, laboratories, disciplines, industries, and departments for a common goal. Moreover, it will aid the development of technology for social benefits and address regional needs such as food, water, and energy security.
Other Upcoming ISRO Missions
ISRO’s ambitious journey doesn’t conclude with Gaganyaan. The organization has planned several key missions like Shukrayaan Venus Mission, L-1 Aditya Solar, and Chandrayaan-3 Missions. While Shukrayaan will be ISRO’s first expedition to Venus, the L-1 Aditya Solar mission aims to study the Sun, making it India’s first scientific project towards this endeavor. The Chandrayaan-3, a follow-up of the Chandrayaan-2 mission, involves extensive processes including integration, subsystems realization, spacecraft level detailed testing, and many special tests to evaluate the system performance on earth.