Human Space Flight Centre

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Human Space Flight Centre
Indian Space Research Organisation Logo.svg
Agency overview
Formed30 January 2019; 3 years ago (2019-01-30)
JurisdictionDepartment of Space
HeadquartersBangalore, in Karnataka, India
Annual budgetSee the budget of ISRO
Agency executive
  • Umamaheshwaran R, Director
Parent agencyISRO
WebsiteISRO Home Page

The Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) is a body under the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to coordinate the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme. The agency will be responsible for implementation of the Gaganyaan project.[1] The first crewed flight is planned for 2023[2] on a home-grown GSLV-III rocket.[3][4][5]

Before Gaganyaan mission announcement in August 2018, human spaceflight was not the priority for ISRO, though most of the required capability for it had been realised.[6] ISRO has already developed most of the technologies for crewed flight and it performed a Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment and a Pad Abort Test for the mission.[7] The project will cost less than Rs. 10,000 crore.[8][9] In December 2018, the government approved further 100 billion (US$1.5 billion) for a 7-days crewed flight of 3 astronauts to take place in December 2021,[3][10] later delayed to 2023.[2]

If completed on schedule, India will become world's fourth nation to conduct independent human spaceflight after the Soviet Union/Russia, United States and People's Republic of China. After conducting crewed spaceflights, the agency also intends to continue with efforts with a space station program and possibly a crewed lunar landing.[11]

History[]

Prototype flight suit for crewed mission

The trials for crewed space missions began in 2007 with the 600 kg Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE), launched using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket, and safely returned to earth 12 days later.

Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) has worked on the space food for crewed spaceflight and has been conducting trials on G-suit for astronauts as well.[12][13] A prototype 'Advanced Crew Escape Suit' weighing 13 kg was built by Sure Safety (India) Limited based on ISRO's requirements has been tested and performance verified.[14][15][16][17]

On 28 December 2018, the Indian Union cabinet approved the funding for Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO's) human spaceflight programme, under which a three-member crew will be sent to space for seven days and is expected to cost Rs 9,023 crore. The testing phase is expected to begin from 2022[18] and the mission will be undertaken by 2023.[2]

Spacecraft development[]

Development schedule of Gaganyaan[18][19][2]
Flight type Proposed month & year Crew
Test Flight 1 June 2022 None
Test Flight 2 2023 None
Crewed 2023 3
Michael Clark talks about India's Human Spaceflight Programme and the rockets that will enable them.

The first phase of this programme is to develop and fly the 3.7-ton spaceship called Gaganyaan that will carry a 3-member crew to low Earth orbit and safely return to Earth after a mission duration of a few orbits to two days. The first uncrewed launch is planned for 2022.[18] The extendable version of the spaceship will allow flights up to seven days, rendezvous and docking capability.

Enhancements in spacecraft will lead to development of a space habitat allowing spaceflight duration of 30–40 days at once in next phase. Further advances from experience will subsequently lead to development of a space station.[20]

On 7 October 2016, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre Director K. Sivan stated that ISRO was gearing up to conduct a critical 'crew bailout test' called ISRO Pad Abort Test to see how fast and effectively the crew module could be released safely in the event of an emergency. The tests were conducted successfully on 5 July 2018 at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. This was the first test in a series of tests to qualify a crew escape system technology.[21][22]

India will not use any animals for life support systems testing but robots resembling humans will be used.[23][24] ISRO is targeting more than 99.8% reliability for its crew escape system.[25]

As of August 2018, ISRO plans to launch its crewed orbiter Gaganyaan atop a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III (GSLV Mk III).[3][4][8][9] About 16 minutes after lift-off, the rocket will inject the orbital vehicle into an orbit 300 to 400 km above Earth. The capsule would return for a splashdown in the Arabian Sea near the Gujarat coastline.[26] As of May 2019, design of crew module has been completed.[27] The spacecraft will be flown twice unmanned for validation before conducting actual human spaceflight.[19]

Infrastructure development[]

Human-Rating of GSLV[]

Human-rating rates the system is capable of safely transporting humans. ISRO will be building and launching 2 missions to validate the human rating of the GSLV-MK III.[28] Existing launch facilities will be upgraded to enable them to carry out launches under Indian Human Spaceflight campaign.[29][30]

Escape System[]

The escape system will boast of a recently included geometry. Work on parachute enlargement and new architecture are also going on.[28][31]

Astronaut training[]

Training for Gaganyaan programme[]

ISRO Chairman, K. Sivan, announced in January 2019 the creation of India's Human Space Flight Centre in Bangalore for training astronauts, also called vyomanauts (vyoma means 'Space' or 'Sky' in Sanskrit).[32] The 1,000 crore (US$132.8 million) centre will train the selected astronauts in rescue and recovery operations, operate in zero gravity environment, and monitoring of the radiation environment.

In spring 2009 a full-scale mock-up of the crew capsule was built and delivered to Satish Dhawan Space Centre for training of astronauts. India will be short listing 200 Indian Air Force pilots for this purpose. The selection process would begin by the candidates having to complete an ISRO questionnaire, after which they would be subjected to physical and psychological analyses. Only 4 of the 200 applicants will be selected for the first space mission training. While two will fly, two shall act as reserve.[33][34]

ISRO signed a memorandum of understanding in 2009 with the Indian Air Force's Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) to conduct preliminary research on psychological and physiological needs of crew and development of training facilities.[35][36] ISRO is also discussing an agreement with Russia regarding some aspects of astronaut training.[37][38]

Human Space Flight Centre and Glavcosmos, which is a subsidiary of the Russian state corporation Roscosmos, signed an agreement on 1 July 2019 for cooperation in the selection, support, medical examination and space training of Indian astronauts.[39] An ISRO Technical Liaison Unit (ITLU) will be set up in Moscow to facilitate the development of some key technologies and establishment of special facilities which are essential to support life in space.[40]

As of January 2020, 4 crews have been selected for the mission with astronaut training scheduled to begin in third week of January.[41]

Planned facilities within India[]

An astronaut training facility will be established on proposed site of 140 acres (0.57 km2) nearby Kempegowda International Airport in Devanahalli, Karnataka.[42]

Another such facility is proposed to be constructed in Challakere under a 2,700 crore (US$360 million) plan. It will be a facility spanning 400 acres (1.6 km2) and will be the primary facility for astronaut training and other related activities. As of January 2020, it is planned to be completed in 3 years. Once completed, all activities related to the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme will be undertaken there.[43][44][45]

Experiments and objectives[]

On 7 November 2018, ISRO released an Announcement of Opportunity seeking proposals from the Indian science community for microgravity experiments that could be carried out during the first two robotic flights of Gaganyaan.[46][47] The scope of the experiments is not restricted, and other relevant ideas will be entertained. The proposed orbit for microgravity platform is expected to be in an Earth-bound orbit at approximately 400 km altitude. All the proposed internal and external experimental payloads will undergo thermal, vacuum and radiation tests under required temperature and pressure conditions. To carry out microgravity experiments for long duration, a satellite may be placed in orbit.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Inauguration of Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) - ISRO". www.isro.gov.in. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d Singh, Surendra (11 November 2021). "Covid stalled Gaganyaan project, manned mission will finally be launched in 2023: Isro chief". The Times of India. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Gaganyaan mission to take Indian astronaut to space by 2022: PM Modi. The Hindu. 15 August 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Gaganyaan mission to take Indian astronaut to space by 2022: PM Modi". The Hindu. 15 August 2018.
  5. ^ "Independence Day 2018 Live Updates: 'We will put an Indian on space before 2022,' says Narendra Modi at Red Fort". Firstpost.com. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  6. ^ "Satellites Are Our Priority Now, Not Human Space Flight". Outlook. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  7. ^ "ISRO's first 'pad abort' test, critical for future human space mission, successful". The Hindu. 5 July 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Indian Astronaut Will Be In Space For 7 Days, Confirms ISRO Chairman".
  9. ^ a b Suresh, Haripriya (15 August 2018). "JFK in 1961, Modi in 2018: PM announces 'Indian in space by 2022,' but is ISRO ready?". The News Minute.
  10. ^ Indians To Spend 7 Days In Space In Rs. 10,000 Crore Gaganyaan Plan: 10 Points, NDTV, 28 Dec 2018.
  11. ^ "ISRO Looks Beyond Manned Mission; Gaganyaan Aims to Include Women".
  12. ^ "Def lab works on food for spaceflight crew". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  13. ^ "Dosa or dum aloo. What will India's first astronauts eat?". dna. 19 March 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  14. ^ "AHMEDABAD DNA G & G [PG 16] : Vadodara-based company develops space suit for ISRO". epaper.dnaindia.com. Archived from the original on 19 August 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  15. ^ "Gujarat's firms helping ISRO shape up 'manned space mission'". The Indian Express. 3 November 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  16. ^ IndiaTV (12 February 2016), Gujarat's Firm Develops India's First Space Suit for ISRO | Make in India, retrieved 18 August 2018
  17. ^ "Government of India, Department of Space, Unstarred Question number 213 LokSabha" (PDF). 16 November 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  18. ^ a b c "First human-rated test flight for India's Gaganyaan not likely in 2021". The Tribune. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  19. ^ a b Department of Space (10 February 2021). "Training of Astronauts and Progress of Gaganyaan Mission". Press Information Bureau. Delhi. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
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  22. ^ "ISRO's first 'pad abort' test, critical for future human space mission, successful".
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  27. ^ "India's first solar mission in 2020: ISRO chairman". The Times of India. 4 May 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  28. ^ a b "Isro to build 3 sets of rockets, crew modules for Gaganyaan - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  29. ^ "India's human space programme gets a fillip". Retrieved 11 January 2019. Initially, the plan was the construct a new launch pad for the human space flight, but Sivan told the Express that due to paucity of time one of the two existing launch pads is being modified to meet the requirement.
  30. ^ "Question number 1733 in Rajya Sabha" (PDF). Retrieved 11 January 2019. It is proposed to utilise the existing launch pad with augmentation for carrying out the initial flights under the Gaganyaan manned space flight programme.[permanent dead link]
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  33. ^ Model of space crew module ready, The Hindu, 2 May 2009
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  44. ^ "Application For Prior Environmental Clearance: Residential Township For Human Space Flight Centre". environmentclearance.nic.in. Archived from the original on 10 January 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  45. ^ "Environmental clearance form: Human Space Flight Centre along with residential township, ISRO, Department of Space" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  46. ^ "Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for Low Earth Orbit based Microgravity Experiments - ISRO".
  47. ^ "Human Mission: ISRO looking at pool of 10 experiments in space".

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