Indian Human Spaceflight Programme

The Indian Human Spaceflight Programme (HSP[1]) was created by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to develop the technology needed to launch crewed orbital spacecraft into low Earth orbit.[2] The first crewed flight is planned with a spacecraft called Gaganyaan for December 2021[3] on a home-grown GSLV-III rocket.[4][5][6]

Previously, human spaceflight was not the priority for ISRO, though most of the capability for the same had been realised.[7] ISRO has already developed most of the technologies for crewed flight and in 2018 it performed a Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment and a Pad Abort Test for the mission.[8] The project will cost less than Rs. 10,000 crore.[9][10]

History

Prototype flight suit for crewed mission

On 9 August 2007 the then Chairman of the ISRO, G. Madhavan Nair, indicated the agency is "seriously considering" the creation of the Human Spaceflight Programme. He further indicated that within a year ISRO would report on its development of new space capsule technologies.[11] Development of a fully autonomous orbital vehicle to carry a two-member crew into a low-Earth orbit (LEO) began a few months after that when the government allocated ₹95 crore (US$13.2 million) for pre-project initiatives for 2007 through 2008. A crewed mission into space would require about ₹12,400 crore (US$1.7 billion) and a period of seven years for development. The Planning Commission estimated that a budget of ₹5,000 crore (US$696.3 million) was required for initial work on the crewed mission during 2007–2012.[12][13] In February 2009, the Government of India gave the green light for the human space flight programme,[14] but fell short of fully funding it or creating the programme.

The trials for crewed space missions began in 2007 with the 600 kg Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE), launched using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket, and safely returned to earth 12 days later. This followed with the Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment in 2018, and the Pad Abort Test also in 2018. This enables India to develop heat-resistant materials, technology and procedures necessary for human space travel.

Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) has worked on the space food for crewed spaceflight and has been conducting trials on G-suit for astronauts as well.[15][16] A prototype 'Advanced Crew Escape Suit' weighing 13 kg was built by Sure Safety (India) Private Limited based on ISRO's requirements has been tested and performance verified.[17][18][19][20]

Having shown success in all preliminary tests,[21] the decisive push for the creation of the Human Spaceflight Programme took place in 2017,[1] and it was accepted and formally announced by the Prime Minister on 15 August 2018.[22]

Astronaut training

In March 2008 it was proposed that Russia would provide assistance in crew selection and training aboard a Soyuz capsule in preparation for the Indian mission. However, in October 2010 this option was discarded.[23]

MC Dathan, director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) stated that ISRO will set up a facility in Bangalore for training astronauts (Vyomanauts). ISRO is planning to build a third launch pad at Sriharkota for crewed missions with extra facilities like entry into the crew capsule and an escape chute.[13] A site of 140 acres (0.57 km2) nearby the Kempegowda International Airport has been identified. The ₹1,000 crore (US$139.3 million) centre will train the selected astronauts in rescue and recovery operations, operate in zero gravity environment, and monitoring of the radiation environment.

In spring 2009 a full-scale mock-up of the crew capsule was built and delivered to Satish Dhawan Space Centre for training of astronauts. India will be short listing 200 Indian Air Force pilots for this purpose. The selection process would begin by the candidates having to complete an ISRO questionnaire, after which they would be subjected to physical and psychological analyses. Only 4 of the 200 applicants will be selected for the first space mission training. While two will fly, two shall act as reserve.[24][25] ISRO signed an Memorandum of understanding with Institute of Aerospace Medicine to conduct preliminary research on psychological and physiological needs of crew and development of training facilities.[26][27]

Spacecraft development

Development schedule[3]
Flight type Proposed month & year Crew
Test Flight 01 2020 - December n/a
Test Flight 02 2021 - June n/a
Gaganyaan 2021 - December[3] yes

The main objective of this programme is to develop and fly the 3.7-ton spaceship called Gaganyaan that will carry a 3-member crew to low Earth orbit and safely return to Earth after a mission duration of a few orbits to two days. The launch is planned for December 2021.[3] The extendable version of the spaceship will allow flights up to seven days, rendezvous and docking capability with space stations or with an orbital platform.

In October 7, 2016, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre Director K. Sivan stated that ISRO was gearing up to conduct a critical 'crew bailout test' called ISRO Pad Abort Test to see how fast and effectively the crew module could be released safely in the event of an emergency. The tests were conducted successfully on 5 July 2018 at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. This is the first test in a series of tests to qualify a crew escape system technology.[8] India will not use any animals for life support systems testing.[28]

As of August 2018, ISRO plans to launch its crewed orbiter Gaganyaan atop a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III (GSLV Mk III).[4][5][9][10] About 16 minutes after lift-off, the rocket will inject the orbital vehicle into an orbit 300 to 400 km above Earth. The capsule would return for a splashdown in the Arabian Sea near the Gujarat coastline as a primary recovery location.[29]

References

  1. 1 2 Rao, Mukund Kadursrinivas; Murthi, Sridhara, K. R.; Prasad M. Y. S. "THE DECISION FOR INDIAN HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT PROGRAMME - POLITICAL PERSPECTIVES, NATIONAL RELEVANCE AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES" (PDF). International Astronautical Federation.
  2. ↑ "Gaganyan: How to send an Indian into space".
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Isro sets December 2021 target for human mission; no decision on number of Gaganauts or days in space: Sivan". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  4. 1 2 Gaganyaan mission to take Indian astronaut to space by 2022: PM Modi. The Hindu. 15 August 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Gaganyaan mission to take Indian astronaut to space by 2022: PM Modi". The Hindu. 15 August 2018.
  6. ↑ "Independence Day 2018 Live Updates: 'We will put an Indian on space before 2022,' says Narendra Modi at Red Fort". Firstpost.com. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
  7. ↑ "Satellites Are Our Priority Now, Not Human Space Flight". Outlook. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  8. 1 2 "ISRO's first 'pad abort' test, critical for future human space mission, successful". The Hindu. 5 July 2018.
  9. 1 2 "Indian Astronaut Will Be In Space For 7 Days, Confirms ISRO Chairman".
  10. 1 2 Suresh, Haripriya (15 August 2018). "JFK in 1961, Modi in 2018: PM announces 'Indian in space by 2022,' but is ISRO ready?". The News Minute.
  11. ↑ "ISRO considering manned space mission: Nair". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 9 August 2007.
  12. ↑ "Eleventh Five year Plan (2007–12) proprosals for Indian space programme" (PDF). Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  13. 1 2 "ISRO plans manned mission to moon in 2014". Business Standard.
  14. ↑ "India announces first manned space mission". BBC. 27 January 2010
  15. ↑ "Def lab works on food for spaceflight crew". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  16. ↑ "Dosa or dum aloo. What will India's first astronauts eat?". dna. 2010-03-19. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  17. ↑ "AHMEDABAD DNA G & G [PG 16] : Vadodara-based company develops space suit for ISRO". epaper.dnaindia.com. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  18. ↑ "Gujarat's firms helping ISRO shape up 'manned space mission'". The Indian Express. 2015-11-03. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  19. ↑ IndiaTV (2016-02-12), Gujarat's Firm Develops India's First Space Suit for ISRO | Make in India, retrieved 2018-08-18
  20. ↑ "Government of India,Department of Space, Unstarred Question number 213 LokSabha" (PDF). 16 November 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  21. ↑ "ISRO to send first Indian into Space by 2022 as announced by PM, says Dr Jitendra Singh" (Press release). Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Department of Space. 28 August 2018.
  22. ↑ "Indian will take national flag to space on board Gaganyaan by 2022, says PM Narendra Modi in Independence Day speech". Hindustan Times. 15 August 2018.
  23. ↑ "Indian Cosmonauts will not Fly in Russian Soyuz". roscosmos.ru. 10 October 2010. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  24. ↑ Model of space crew module ready, The Hindu, 2 May 2009
  25. ↑ "IAF developing parameters for India's manned space mission". The Economic Times. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  26. ↑ "The Space Review: Prospects for the Indian human spaceflight program". www.thespacereview.com. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  27. ↑ "Isro unit to start building space capsule for manned mission". Livemint.com. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  28. ↑ "ISRO Not To Fly Living Being Before Actual Manned Space Mission: Official". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
  29. ↑ Peri, Dinakar (2018-08-28). "Manned space mission before 75th I-Day: ISRO chief". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
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