The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) recently launched India’s first manned ocean mission “Samudrayaan” in Chennai, marking a significant development for India’s marine science and technology. With the initiation of this novel undertaking, India stands tall alongside select countries – the US, Russia, France, Japan, and China – that are equipped with specialized technology and vehicles for executing underwater activities.
Unveiling Samudrayaan: An Overview
Samudrayaan, India’s maiden manned ocean mission, aims to propel humans deep into the ocean for exploration purposes and mining of scarce minerals. Under this mission, three individuals will embark on a journey in a manned submersible vehicle, MATSYA 6000, plunging into a depth of 6000 metres below the sea level for conducting extensive underwater studies. Notably, conventional submarines can only reach approximately 200 metres into the ocean. Samudrayaan forms part of the expansive Rs 6000-crore Deep Ocean Mission sanctioned by the central government.
Deep Ocean Mission: Exploring the Unseen
In June 2021, MoES greenlit the highly ambitious Deep Ocean Mission. The mission is geared towards probing the deep ocean for potential resources, fostering the development of advanced deep-sea technologies supportive of sustainable utilization of ocean resources, and aiding the Indian Government’s Blue Economy Initiatives. The cost of the overarching Mission is estimated to be around Rs. 4,077 crore over an anticipated five-year phase-wise implementation period.
MATSYA 6000: Indigenous Technological Marvel
MATSYA 6000, the indigenously developed manned submersible vehicle is tasked with assisting MoES in carrying out deep-sea exploration. The vehicle will be instrumental in unearthing resources such as gas hydrates, polymetallic manganese nodules, hydrothermal sulfides, and cobalt crusts located at varying depths between 1000 and 5500 metres. Polymetallic nodules, also known as manganese nodules, are mineral accumulations on the seabed formed of concentric iron and manganese hydroxide layers around a core.
Significance: A Gateway to Oceanic Wonders
The introduction of the Samudrayaan mission is set to unveil multiple growth opportunities in harnessing ocean resources for the generation of clean energy, provision of potable water, and advancement of the blue economy. Numerous developed nations have already embarked on similar ocean exploration missions. Nevertheless, India distinguishes itself as the first developing nation to initiate a deep-sea mission of this magnitude.
Related Avenues: Broadening Horizons
The launch of Samudrayaan contributes to a series of initiatives that aim at ensuring sustainable development while leveraging marine resources. Some of these include the India-Norway Task Force on Blue Economy for Sustainable Development, the Sagarmala Project, O-SMART, Integrated Coastal Zone Management, and National Fisheries Policy. These initiatives collectively underscore India’s commitment towards realizing responsible and productive interactions with the Earth’s oceans.
Note: The information in this article has been sourced from PIB.