VSSC, ISRO develop the multi-purpose app SAKHI to assist the Gaganyaan crew

Subject: Science and tech

Section: Space

About Space-borne Assistant and Knowledge Hub for Crew Interaction (SAKHI) App:

Developed by: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) facility at Thumba in Thiruvananthapuram.
Purpose of the App: A multi-purpose app that will help astronauts on the Gaganyaan space flight mission carry out a range of tasks such as looking up vital technical information or communicating with one another.
- It will also monitor the health of the astronauts, help them stay connected with Earth and even alert them about their dietary schedules.

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC):

VSSC is a major space research centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), focusing on rockets and space vehicles for India’s satellite programme. It is located in Trivandrum, in the Indian state of Kerala.
The centre had its beginnings as the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in 1962. It was renamed in honour of Vikram Sarabhai, often regarded as the father of the Indian space program.
VSSC is an entirely indigenous facility working on the development of sounding rockets, the Rohini and Menaka launchers, and SLV, ASLV, PSLV, GSLV and GSLV Mk III families of launch vehicles.

Gaganyaan Mission:

The Gaganyaan Mission is India’s ongoing project to send a 3-day manned mission to the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) of 400 km with a crew of 3 members and bring them safely back to Earth.
As part of this program, two unmanned missions and one manned mission are approved by the Government of India.
The first manned spaceflight is expected to take place in 2024. The success of the Gaganyaan Mission will put India in the elite group of nations (US, Russia, and China) having human space flight capability.
Objectives of Gaganyaan Mission
- To undertake human space flights: Its immediate aim is to demonstrate indigenous capability to undertake human space flights.
- Space exploration: In the long run, it will lay the foundation for a sustained Indian human space exploration programme.