Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Designed by: Mohsin Shaikh
The Gaganyaan mission, with an estimated budget of Rs 10,000 crore, represents a pivotal step in India's space exploration, aiming to send a three-member Indian crew on a groundbreaking journey to space, with a mission duration of five to seven days. The paramount objective is to ensure their safe return to Earth
The Gaganyaan mission was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 2018 Republic Day address from the Red Fort. Originally slated to coincide with India's 75th year of independence in 2022, several challenges and delays have necessitated rescheduling the final crew mission
In the evolving landscape of global dominance, space has emerged as the next frontier, following land, sea, and air. Countries are fervently exploring the cosmos, seeking to uncover new resources on celestial bodies and investigate the possibility of microbial life beyond Earth's orbit
Amidst the dominance of the United States and Russia in space exploration, China is making strides with ambitious plans for its space station, asteroid sample return missions, and Mars exploration. An indigenous crewed mission by India will positions the nation at the heart of this competitive space race, reshaping global geopolitics of the unknown cosmos
India has already demonstrated its capabilities with cost-effective lunar and Martian missions. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) has catered to global demand for satellite placement into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). India also became the first country to land on the southern pole of the moon successfully
Preceding the Gaganyaan mission announcement, ISRO was actively engaged in developing critical technologies for human spaceflight. These encompass re-entry and recovery systems, cryogenic engines, and life support mechanisms. Notably, successful tests of key technologies, like the Space-capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE), date back to 2004
The human spaceflight initiative provides India with a unique micro-gravity platform in space. This platform fosters the execution of pioneering experiments and serves as a test-bed for evaluating emerging technologies
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is also set to launch a data relay satellite, playing a pivotal role in maintaining uninterrupted contact with the Gaganyaan mission, providing vital support during the prelude to the final manned flight
India has successfully leveraged international collaboration in the pursuit of its ambitious human spaceflight goals. Partnerships with Russia and France have brought crucial training and equipment. Four Indian Air Force pilots underwent rigorous training in Russia, marking a substantial step in the mission's preparation, despite initial setbacks due to global lockdowns during Covid-19 pandemic
In an expansive gesture of global cooperation, India recently entered into an agreement with the French space agency, National Centre for Space Studies (CNES). This collaboration encompasses the supply of specialized equipment, such as fireproof carry bags to safeguard instruments from shocks and radiation, and intensive training in France for India's flight physicians and CAPCOM mission control teams
ISRO is set to launch the Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1), an unmanned test flight aimed at rigorously assessing the performance of the Gaganyaan crew escape system tomorrow, in a launch window that extends from 7 am to 9 am. This will mark the beginning of the final preparations for India's first manned space flight