HS200 Solid Rocket Booster For Gaganyaan

In News

• Recently, ISRO successfully tested  the HS200 solid rocket booster for the Gaganyaan programme.

About HS200

• It is a 20-metre-long booster with a diameter of 3.2 metres and is the world’s second largest operational booster using solid propellants. 
• The control system used in the HS200 booster employs one of the world’s most powerful electro-mechanical actuators with multiple redundancies and safety features.
• Designed and developed by: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram over two years.
• Applications:
  • The GSLV Mk-III rocket which will be used for the Gaganyaan mission will have two HS200 boosters which will supply the thrust for lift-off. 
  • Since Gaganyaan is a crewed mission, the GSLV Mk-III will have improvements to increase reliability and safety to meet the requirements of ‘human rating.’ 
• Significance: 
  • The successful completion of this test marks a major milestone for the prestigious human space flight mission of ISRO, the Gaganyaan.

Gaganyaan Mission

• Aim: 
  • Gaganyaan is an Indian crewed orbital spacecraft that is intended to send 3 astronauts to space for a minimum of seven days by 2022 (delayed due to COVID-19).
• Launched by: 
  • ISRO’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV Mk III (3 stages heavy-lift vehicle)
• Components:
  • Consists of a service module and a crew module, collectively known as an Orbital Module (Crew Module carries astronauts & Service Modules carries propellants.)

Image Courtesy: Gaganyaan Twitter 

• LEO:
  • It will circle Earth at a low-earth-orbit at an altitude of 300-400 km from the earth for 5-7 days.
• Vyom Mitra:
  • ISRO to send humanoid Vyommitra in unmanned Gaganyaan spacecraft ahead of human spaceflight (Monitoring module parameters).

Image Courtesy: TOI 

Significance of the Mission

• Establish India as the World leader in Manned missions (USA, China and Russia)
• Enhancement of science and technology levels in the country.
• A national project involving several institutes, academia and industry.
• Improvement of industrial growth (IN-SPACe to ↑ Pvt. participation).
• Inspiring youth.
• Development of technology for social benefits.
• Improving international collaboration. 

Challenges in the Mission

• Financial Cost: 10,000 crores, critics questions about this over poor & undernourished.
• Technological Know-how: Rocket, Crew Escape Mechanism, Radiation exposure, Transitioning of one gravity field to another (cause osteoporosis) & simulating Earth-like conditions.
• Health Issues: Like Behavioural issues, depression, fatigue, sleep disorder.

Other Major Space Projects

• Venus mission: This will be the first mission to Venus by the ISRO.
• L-1 Aditya solar: India’s first scientific expedition to study the Sun
• Chandrayaan-3: It is a lander-and rover-specific mission, a follow-up of the Chandrayaan-2 mission.

Source: TH