Overview

• Gaganyaan Mission is India’s human spaceflight programme led by ISRO.
• Objective is to send three Indian astronauts to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) ~400 km for a 3-day mission and ensure safe return to Earth.
• Programme includes two unmanned missions followed by one manned mission.
• Successful execution will place India among elite spacefaring nations with human spaceflight capability.

Mission Objectives

• Demonstrate indigenous human spaceflight capability using Indian technology.
• Establish a foundation for a long-term human space exploration programme.
• Enable microgravity research in medicine, material science, and biology.
• Develop critical spaceflight technologies related to crew safety and life support.

Key Technologies Involved

• Human-rated launch vehicle with enhanced safety and redundancy.
• Habitable orbital module capable of sustaining crew in space.
• Crew Escape System (CES) for emergency abort scenarios.
• Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) for Earth-like conditions.

Human-Rated LVM3 Launch Vehicle

• LVM3 (Gaganyaan version) is a modified human-rated variant of ISRO’s heavy-lift rocket.
• Features three-stage propulsion:
  • Solid stage
  • Liquid stage
  • Cryogenic stage
• Integrated with Crew Escape System and Orbital Module.
• Designed to meet stringent human safety standards.

Orbital Module (OM)

• Orbiting system consisting of:
  • Crew Module (CM)
  • Service Module (SM)
• Equipped with advanced avionics, fault tolerance, and redundancy.

Crew Module (CM)

• Pressurised habitable space for astronauts.
• Provides:
  • Life support systems
  • Navigation, guidance, and communication
  • Human-machine interfaces
• Features double-walled structure:
  • Inner pressurised metallic shell
  • Outer Thermal Protection System (TPS)
• Designed for safe atmospheric re-entry and splashdown.

Service Module (SM)

• Unpressurised module supporting the Crew Module in orbit.
• Contains:
  • Propulsion system
  • Power generation
  • Thermal control
  • Avionics and deployment mechanisms

Crew Escape System (CES)

• Ensures crew survival during launch or ascent emergencies.
• Enables rapid separation of crew module from launch vehicle.
• Validated through In-flight Abort Tests.

Abort Mission Testing

• Test Vehicle Abort Mission (TV-D1):
  • Demonstrated mid-flight crew escape capability.
  • Validated safe separation and recovery of crew module.

Life Support System

• Maintains Earth-like environment inside crew module.
• Regulates:
  • Oxygen and carbon dioxide
  • Temperature and humidity
  • Waste management
• Integrated with crew health monitoring, training, and post-mission recovery.

Phases of Gaganyaan Mission

• Testing Phase:
  • Integrated Air Drop Tests (IADT)
  • Pad Abort Tests (PAT)
  • Test Vehicle (TV) flights
• Unmanned Missions:
  • Validate systems, safety, and reliability
  • Heavily instrumented for data collection
• Vyommitra Mission:
  • Humanoid robot astronaut to fly onboard unmanned missions
• Manned Mission:
  • Final crewed spaceflight after successful validation

Significance of Gaganyaan Mission

• Technological advancement in space systems and safety engineering.
• Scientific research opportunities in microgravity conditions.
• Youth inspiration and boost to STEM education.
• Economic impact through space industry growth and employment.
• Strategic and diplomatic value enhancing India’s global space stature.

Microgravity Research

• Encourages experiments in:
  • Human physiology
  • Biomedical science
  • Advanced materials
• Supports India’s entry into human-centric space research.

Major Challenges

• Crew safety and radiation exposure in space environment.
• Development of regenerative life-support systems.
• Limited domestic human spaceflight training infrastructure.
• Complexity of human-rated launch systems.
• Psychological and physiological stress in zero gravity.

Conclusion

• Gaganyaan Mission represents a decisive leap in India’s space journey.
• Combines scientific ambition, technological self-reliance, and national prestige.
• Its success will shape India’s future in human space exploration and advanced space research.