ISRO Plans Gaganyaan Unmanned Flight Tests, Gears for Abort Mission

Subject :Science and tech

Section: Space technology

Context:

The abort mission is expected by October end from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota.

About Gaganyaan Mission:

The Gaganyaan project envisages demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members to an orbit of 400 km for a three day mission and bringing them back safely to earth, by landing in Indian sea waters.
The first trial (uncrewed flight) for Gaganyaan is being planned by the end of 2023 or early 2024. This will be followed by sending Vyom Mitra, a humanoid and then with the crew onboard.

ISRO’s first human spaceflight mission:

This manned mission will be the first of ISRO’s human spaceflight missions.
The US, Russia and China are the only three countries to have conducted human spaceflights yet.

Launched by:

ISRO’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV Mk III (3 stages heavy-lift vehicle).

Significance of the Gaganyaan mission

India’s aim of Self-reliance:It will help India in achieving self-reliance, in line with the vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat and also boost the capacity development in launching satellites under the Make in India Initiative.
It will reduce India’s dependence on foreign cooperation in this direction.
R&D and robotic programme:It will also enhance the research and development (R&D) at science and technology levels especially in the space sector.
It is in line with India’s progress towards a sustained and affordable human and robotic programme to explore the solar system and beyond.
Focus on regional needs:Gaganyaan will focus on regional needs because one International Space Station (ISS) may not be enough to cater to global requirements.
Strengthening international partnerships: The programme will strengthen international partnerships and global security through the sharing of challenging and peaceful goals.

Challenges:

Environmental Hazards: Hostile space environment with a lack of gravity and atmosphere and danger of radiation.
Astronauts may have medical issues due to: Microgravity and Solar insolation.
Behavioural issues are likely to crop up when astronauts are confined into small spaces and have to rely on limited resources.
They may encounter depression, cabin fever, fatigue, sleep disorder and other psychiatric disorders.
Artificial Atmosphere: There are two choices for an artificial atmosphere, either an Earth-like mixture of oxygen in inert gas or pure oxygen.

Abort Mission for Gaganyaan

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will conduct two unmanned ‘Abort Mission’ to ensure crew safety during the Gaganyaan mission.
The abort missions are meant to test the systems that can help the crew escape from the spacecraft mid-flight in case of a failure.
ISRO already conducted a pad abort test — where the crew can escape from the spacecraft in case of an emergency at the launch pad — in 2018.
For the abort missions, ISRO has developed test vehicles that can send the systems up to a certain height, simulate failure, and then check the escape system.
Escape system is designed with five “quick-acting” solid fuel motors with a high burn rate propulsion system, and fins to maintain stability.
The crew escape system will separate from the crew module by firing explosive nuts.
ISRO’s focus is on perfecting the system that will launch and land Indians on missions to space and to protect the astronauts if the mission fails.

Payloads:

The payload will consist of:
- Crew module: Spacecraft carrying human beings.
- Service module: Powered by two liquid propellant engines.
- It will be equipped with emergency escape and emergency mission abort.
Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3/GSLV Mk3) rocket – heavy lift launcher of ISRO, is identified as the launch vehicle for Gaganyaan mission.
- India’s heaviest rocket consists of 3-stage propulsion (solid stage, liquid stage and cryogenic stage).
All systems in the LVM3 launch vehicle are re-configured to meet human rating requirements i.e. Human Rated LVM3/HLVM3.
Under the Gaganyaan schedule (to be launched in 2023):
- Three flights will be sent into orbit.
- There will be two unmanned flights and one human spaceflight.

Why Abort Mission Before Gaganyaan?

The abort missions are meant to test the systems that can help the crew escape from the spacecraft mid-flight in case of a failure.
The Test Vehicle is a single-stage liquid rocket developed for this abort mission that can send the systems up to a certain height, simulate failure, and then check the escape system.
- Escape system is designed with five “quick-acting” solid fuel motors with a high burn rate propulsion system, and fins to maintain stability.
- The payloads consist of the Crew Module and Crew Escape Systems (CES) with their fast-acting solid motors.
The crew escape system will separate from the crew module by firing explosive nuts.