Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) gears up to conduct two unmanned ‘Abort Mission’ tests in 2022. These tests are integral elements of India’s prime manned spaceflight project, famously known as the “Gaganyaan mission”. The first test vehicle was launched in September 2021, marking a significant milestone in India’s roadmap to achieve its first manned flight to space.
The Logic Behind Abort Missions Prior to Gaganyaan
Abort missions are essentially meant to analyze and ensure the efficiency of systems that would aid in the safe exit of the crew from the spacecraft mid-flight in case of unforeseen failure. ISRO had earlier conducted a pad abort test in 2018, focusing on procedures where the crew can escape from the spacecraft during an emergency at the launch pad.
For these specific abort missions, ISRO has developed test vehicles that propel the systems to a certain altitude, simulate possible failure, and subsequently evaluate the functionality of the escape system. The escape system is engineered with quick-acting solid fuel motors and a high-burn rate propulsion system, accompanied by fins to guarantee stability.
In case of a crisis, the crew escape system will seamlessly separate from the crew module by triggering explosive nuts, shielding the astronauts from harm. Perfecting this system is ISRO’s primary focus so as to safeguard Indian astronauts in space missions.
Gaganyaan Mission: A Leap into the Future
Gaganyaan, an ambitious project by ISRO, aims to launch three flights into orbit. Out of these, two will be unmanned flights and one will be a human spaceflight set to launch in 2023. The Gaganyaan system module, named the Orbital Module, will be housing three Indian astronauts, including a woman. They will journey around Earth in a low-earth-orbit, approximately 300-400 km from earth, for a duration of 5-7 days.
The payload of this mission includes two main components: the Crew module, which carries human beings, and the Service module, powered by two liquid propellant engines. It will also have provisions for emergency escape and mission abort.
Gaganyaan is set to be launched by GSLV Mk III, also known as the LVM-3, which is a three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle. The chosen astronauts will undergo training in Russia, focusing on comprehensive knowledge of Soyuz manned spaceship systems and training in short-term weightlessness mode aboard the Il-76MDK aircraft.
The Significance of Gaganyaan Mission
Besides marking a major achievement for ISRO, the Gaganyaan mission will also significantly enhance national science and technology capabilities. It will involve numerous laboratories, industries, and departments, thereby potentially accelerating technological advancement for societal benefits.
Moreover, this mission is expected to foster industrial growth in India, particularly targeting the thriving private sector in space exploration and research. It also holds potential for increasing international collaborations in space technology and research.
ISRO’s Upcoming Missions
Beyond the Gaganyaan mission, ISRO has various ambitious projects lined up. These include Chandrayaan-3, a moon mission planned to be launched in 2022; Shukrayaan, a tentative mission to Venus; XpoSat, a space observatory designed to study cosmic x-rays; and the Aditya L1 mission. The latter is an exceptional venture that will send an Indian spacecraft 1.5 million kms away to a location between the Sun and Earth, known as the L1 or Lagrangian point, thus marking yet another significant milestone for India in space exploration.
