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.

Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle

  • About: Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark II (GSLV Mk II) is the largest launch vehicle developed by India, which is currently in operation. This fourth generation launch vehicle is a three stage vehicle with four liquid strap-ons. The indigenously developed cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS), which is flight proven, forms the third stage of GSLV Mk II. From January 2014, the vehicle has achieved four consecutive successes.

Source: TH

 
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