1. What is Gaganyaan and its significance for India?
Gaganyaan is ISRO’s mission to send Indian astronauts to low-Earth orbit using an Indian launch vehicle. It marks India’s first human spaceflight mission, aiming to demonstrate various technologies required for human spaceflight. This mission underscores India’s capability in human space exploration, aligning with ambitious goals like launching an indigenous space station by 2035 and landing an Indian on the moon by 2040.
2. What are the primary goals laid down by ISRO for Gaganyaan?
ISRO’s goals for Gaganyaan include testing and demonstrating technologies essential for human spaceflight, such as environmental control, life-support systems, and safe re-entry and recovery of the crew module. It aims to establish India’s ability to undertake human space missions independently.
3. Why is a crewed flight considered technologically ambitious?
A crewed flight is technologically ambitious due to the complexity of ensuring human safety in space. It involves developing life-support systems, ensuring the reliability of spacecraft components, mastering the technology for safe re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, and executing precise landing operations. The mission requires human-rating spacecraft systems to meet stringent safety standards.
4. How many test flights are scheduled before the crewed mission?
Before the crewed mission, two important test flights are scheduled. These tests will validate the mission’s key technologies, including the launch vehicle, orbital module, and life-support systems, ensuring everything functions as intended in the demanding conditions of spaceflight.
5. What components comprise Gaganyaan?
Gaganyaan comprises the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3) for launching, an 8.2-tonne orbital module housing the crew module and service module, and a crew of Indian Air Force (IAF) astronauts. The crew module is designed for habitation and safety of the astronauts, while the service module contains the propulsion system.
6. How is ISRO preparing for Gaganyaan?
ISRO has conducted several tests and missions, such as the Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE) and the Crew-module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE), to develop and validate technologies for Gaganyaan. It’s also human-rating spacecraft systems and developing essential components like the environmental control and life-support system (ECLSS) internally, due to challenges in sourcing them from abroad.
7. What will Gaganyaan achieve for India?
Gaganyaan will establish India’s self-sufficiency in sending humans to space, reducing reliance on foreign launch services. It will enhance India’s standing in the global space community, contributing to scientific, commercial, and exploratory missions in space. The mission is part of broader efforts, including policy reforms and support for space startups, to secure India’s place in the new space race.
SRIRAM’s
