Gaganyaan

Gaganyaan
Rendering of Gaganyan crew module
Manufacturer
Country of originIndia India
OperatorISRO
ApplicationsCrewed orbital vehicle
Specifications
Spacecraft typeCrewed
Launch mass8,200 kg (18,100 lb) (includes service module)[1]
Dry mass3,735 kg (8,234 lb)[2]
Crew capacity3[3]
DimensionsDiameter: 3.5 m (11 ft)[4]
Height: 3.58 m (11.7 ft)[4]
Volume8 m3 (280 cu ft)[5]
PowerPhotovoltaic array
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Design life7 days
Production
StatusIn development

Gaganyaan ([ɡəɡənəjɑːnə];pronunciationⓘ from Sanskrit: gagana, "celestial" and yāna, "craft, vehicle") is an Indian crewed orbital spacecraft intended to be the formative spacecraft of the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme. The spacecraft is being designed to carry three people, and a planned upgraded version will be equipped with rendezvous and docking capabilities. In its maiden crewed mission, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s largely autonomous 5.3-metric ton capsule will orbit the Earth at 400 km altitude for up to seven days with a two- or three-person crew on board. The first crewed mission was originally planned to be launched on ISRO's HLVM3 rocket in December 2021.[6][7] As of October 2023, it is expected to be launched by 2025.[8]

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)-manufactured crew module underwent its first uncrewed experimental flight on 18 December 2014.[9] As of May 2019, design of the crew module has been completed.[10] Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will provide support for critical human-centric systems and technologies such as space-grade food, crew healthcare, radiation measurement and protection, parachutes for the safe recovery of the crew module, and the fire suppression system.[11]

On 11 June 2020, it was announced that the first uncrewed Gaganyaan launch would be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in India.[12] The overall timeline for crewed launches was expected to remain unaffected.[13] ISRO chairman S. Somanath announced in 2022 that the first crewed mission would not take place until 2024 at the earliest because of safety concerns.[14]

The Gaganyaan Mission will be led by V. R. Lalithambika, the former Director of the Directorate of the Human Spaceflight Programme with ISRO Chairman S Somnath and S. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.[15][16] Imtiaz Ali Khan superseded V. R. Lalithambika as the Director of the Directorate of Human Spaceflight Programme.[17][18]

  1. ^ Expert Talk by Dr R.Venkatraman, Dy.Director on Challenges in launch pad systems for Gaganyaan (Video). SDSC SHAR. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Indian Manned Spacecraft". Astronautix. 2014. Archived from the original on 28 December 2016.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference three was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Kunhikrishnan, P. "India's Human Spaceflight Programme: GAGANYAAN" (PDF). UNOOSA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Integrated Cabin Pressure Control System" (PDF). isro.gov.in. ISRO. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  6. ^ Singh, Surendra (29 December 2018). "Rs 10,000 crore plan to send 3 Indians to space by 2022". The Times of India. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  7. ^ PTI (15 August 2018). "Gaganyaan mission to take Indian astronaut to space by 2022: PM Modi". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  8. ^ PTI (22 October 2023). "ISRO chief Somnath says space agency prefers woman fighter test pilots for its crewed mission, possible in future". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  9. ^ "Hindustan Aeronautics Limited". Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  10. ^ "India's first solar mission in 2020: ISRO chairman". The Times of India. 4 May 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  11. ^ "Gaganyaan: DRDO to provide special space food and emergency survival kit for ISRO's manned mission". The Financial Express. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  12. ^ "No Gaganyaan Unmanned Flight This Year". The Times of India. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  13. ^ "India's First Human Space Mission "Gaganyaan" Will not Be Affected by COVID Pandemic: Dr.Jitendra Singh". 3 July 2020. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  14. ^ "Gaganyaan mission can't happen this year or next year, focus fully on safety aspects: Isro chief". The Times of India. 30 June 2022. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  15. ^ Singh, Surendra (23 September 2018). "Meet the woman scientist heading India's Gaganyaan project". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  16. ^ "Meet people behind ISRO's Gaganyaan mission". DNA India. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Gaganyaan not one-off mission, government approved sustained human spaceflight programme: ISRO official". The Economic Times. 15 April 2023. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  18. ^ Benjamin, Haritha Sharly (19 December 2023). "From PSLV to Chandrayaan: How Indian space programme carved a niche for itself in 60 years | Ft. Dr VR Lalithambika | News Brake Ep 92". Onmanorama. Retrieved 3 March 2024.