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ISRO chief sets new dates for Gaganyaan MIssion and Chandrayaan-4 

Last updated on October 28th, 2024 Posted on October 28, 2024 by NEXT IAS Current Affairs Team  6

Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology

Context

  • The Indian Space Research Organisation’s Chairman, S Somanath, shared new timelines for Chandrayaan 4, Gaganyaan, and a joint moon-landing mission with Japan’s JAXA.

About

  • The Gaganyaan mission will likely begin in 2026 and sample return mission Chandrayaan-4 will be carried out in 2028.
  • A joint moon-landing mission named LUPEX, or Lunar Polar Exploration, would be the Chandrayaan-5 mission. 
    • India would provide a lander for the mission, while a rover would come from Japan.

Space Sector of India

  • India’s space sector has benefitted from decades of consistent investment, with $13 billion invested in the last decade.
    • It is the 8th largest space economy (in terms of funding) in the world.
  • In the recently announced Union Budget for 2024-25, India’s space sector received a significant boost. The Central government allocated ₹13,042.75 crore to support space-related initiatives.

Contribution of Space Sector to India’s GDP

  • The Sector has supported 96,000 jobs in the public and private sector. 
  • For every dollar produced by the space sector, there was a multiplier effect of $2.54 to the Indian economy and India’s space force was 2.5 times more productive than the country’s broader industrial workforce.
  • The Indian space sector was diversifying and now had 700 companies including 200 start-ups and had seen revenues grow to $6.3 billion in 2023, which was about 1.5% of the global space market.
  • Satellite communications contributed 54% to the space economy, followed by navigation (26%) and launches (11%).
    • The main industries supported by the space sector were telecom (25%), information technology (10%) and administrative services (7%).

Challenges in India’s Space Sector

  • Competition and Global Market Share: To achieve this ambitious goal of 8% of the global market share, Indian space companies must compete effectively on the international stage. 
  • Private Sector Participation: While the private sector has shown interest, there’s a need for more substantial investment and commitment.
  • Technology Development and Innovation: Developing cutting-edge technologies, such as reusable launch vehicles, miniaturized satellites, and advanced propulsion systems, requires substantial investment and research. 
  • Regulatory Framework and Licensing: Navigating licensing processes, export controls, and compliance can be complex. 
  • Infrastructure and Facilities: Developing and maintaining such infrastructure requires significant capital. 

Major Reforms In Space Sector of India

  • Indian Space Policy 2023: It laid down roles and responsibilities of organizations such as ISRO, New Space India Limited (NSIL) and private sector entities.
    • It aims to enhance the participation of research, academia, startups and industry.
  • Strategic Proposals by SIA: The Space Industry Association – India (SIA-India) in its Pre-Budget Memorandum for the FY 2024-25 has proposed a substantial increase in India’s space budget.
    • It aims to support India’s expanding space program, foster private sector involvement, drive technological advancements, and position the nation as a key player in the dynamic global space ecosystem.

Way Ahead

  • India aims to commission the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) by 2035 and land Indian astronauts on the Moon by 2040.
  • Private entities are now actively involved in crucial aspects of research, manufacturing, and fabrication of rockets and satellites, fostering a vibrant ecosystem of innovation.  It is expected to integrate Indian companies into global value chains. 
Gaganyaan mission
– The mission aims to demonstrate the capability to launch human beings (three crew members) to low earth orbit and bring them back safely to earth by landing.
– Launch vehicle: The Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) is the launch vehicle for the Gaganyaan mission. All systems in the LVM3 launch vehicle are reconfigured to meet human rating requirements and named Human Rated LVM3 (HLVM3).
– Crew Escape System (CES): HLVM3 consists of  CES powered by a set of quick acting, high burn rate solid motors which ensures that Crew Module along with the crew is taken to a safe distance in case of any emergency either at launch pad or during ascent phase.
– Orbital Module: The Orbiter Module will orbit the Earth, and it consists of Crew Module (CM) and Service Module (SM). It is designed to keep the crew safe during ascent, orbital phase, and re-entry.
1. The Crew Module (CM) is the habitable space with the Earth-like environment in space for the crew.
2. Service Module (SM): It will be used to provide the necessary support to CM while in orbit. It is an unpressurized structure containing thermal system, propulsion system, power systems, avionics systems and deployment mechanisms.
3. 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.

Source: IE

 
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