The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for a significant milestone in India’s ambitious Gaganyaan program. The first test vehicle mission, designed to validate the crew escape system, is scheduled for launch within the next month or two. This mission marks the beginning of a series of planned missions aimed at making India’s maiden human spaceflight venture a reality.
The Gaganyaan program is a monumental endeavour by ISRO, aimed at demonstrating India’s capability to send a crew of two to three members into a circular orbit approximately 400 kilometres above Earth’s surface. The mission’s primary objective is to conduct a one-to-three-day mission in space and safely return the crew to Earth, with a designated landing location in Indian sea waters.
The first test vehicle mission, known as TV-D1, will be the inaugural step in this ambitious program. It will be followed by the second test vehicle mission, TV-D2, and subsequently, the first uncrewed mission of Gaganyaan, named LVM3-G1. The success of these missions will play a pivotal role in planning and executing the crewed mission, which will carry astronauts into space.
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The immediate focus of ISRO is to validate the crew escape system, a critical component of ensuring astronaut safety during launch and ascent. The crew escape system is designed to rapidly move the crew module and astronauts to a safe distance in the event of an emergency, either on the launch pad or during the ascent phase.ISRO has designated the LVM3 rocket, part of its heavy-lift launcher series, as the launch vehicle for the Gaganyaan mission. This launch vehicle is being adapted to meet stringent human rating requirements and is referred to as Human Rated LVM3 (HLVM3). It consists of stages, including a solid stage, a liquid stage, and a cryogenic stage, all configured to ensure the safety of human crew members.
The Gaganyaan mission comprises various components, including:
Crew Escape System (CES): Powered by quick-acting, high-burn-rate solid motors, the CES ensures the safe removal of the Crew Module (CM) and crew during emergencies.
Orbital Module (OM): The OM orbits Earth and includes the Crew Module and the Service Module (SM), equipped with advanced avionics systems for redundancy and safety.
Crew Module (CM): A habitable space for the crew, the CM features an Earth-like environment, life support systems, avionics, and re-entry capabilities.
Service Module (SM): The SM supports the CM while in orbit, providing thermal control, propulsion, power, avionics, and deployment mechanisms.
ISRO’s first test vehicle mission for the Gaganyaan program represents a significant step toward India’s goal of conducting human spaceflight missions. The successful validation of the crew escape system and subsequent missions will pave the way for Indian astronauts to venture into space, marking a historic achievement in the nation’s space exploration efforts.
