In News
- India’s maiden space mission, Gaganyaan, will be launched in 2023: Union Minister of Atomic Energy and Space.
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.)
- 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).
Significance
- 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
- 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 Behavioral 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: IE
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