Produced by: Tarun Mishra
The Samudrayaan mission will send three crew members to explore the ocean floor at a depth of 6,000 meters, marking India’s inaugural manned deep-sea exploration endeavour.
The Matsya-6000 submersible, designed for the mission, will operate on a standard 12-hour mission cycle from the initial dive until recovery, providing the crew time for in-depth exploration and research.
In case of an emergency, the Matsya-6000 is engineered to support the crew for up to an additional 96 hours, extending total potential endurance to 108 hours to ensure crew safety.
The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has equipped the submersible with essential systems for this duration, including life support, oxygen, CO2 scrubbers, batteries, communications, waste management, and specialized food supplies.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing the specialized food for the mission, drawing on their experience in creating nutrition for India’s Gaganyaan astronauts.
The Matsya-6000 will be launched from India’s research vessel, the Sagar Nidhi, which will provide surface support throughout the mission.
The Matsya-6000, with its 2.1-meter diameter titanium hull, joins an elite class of submersibles such as Russia’s Mir, France’s Nautile, Japan’s Shinkai, and China’s Jiaolong, positioning India among a select group of deep-sea-capable nations.
Samudrayaan marks a key advancement in India’s scientific exploration efforts, with the mission’s success set to deepen understanding of the unexplored deep-sea environment.