Indian astronauts-in-training may be headed to International Space Station first, instead of Gaganyaan trip

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• What is the Gaganyaan Mission?
• What is Gaganyaan’s Status?
• Why are India’s Gaganyatris Going to the ISS?

Why in News?

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that two of the astronauts selected for its maiden human spaceflight mission – Gaganyaan, will travel to the U.S. for training for a mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
• Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla has been assigned to fly to the ISS while Group Captain Prashanth Nair will be his back-up.

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What is the Gaganyaan Mission?

• Gaganyaan project (expected to be launched in 2025) envisages demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of 4 members to an orbit of 400 km for a 3 days mission and bringing them back safely to earth.
• It is part of the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme (IHSP), which was initiated (2007) by the ISRO to develop the technology needed to launch crewed orbital spacecraft into low earth orbit (LEO).
• Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3/GSLV Mk3) rocket – the well proven and reliable heavy lift launcher of ISRO, is identified as the launch vehicle for Gaganyaan mission.
  • All systems in the LVM3 launch vehicle are re-configured to meet human rating requirements and christened Human Rated LVM3/HLVM3.

What is Gaganyaan’s Status?

• ISRO has thus far completed the pad abort and the high-altitude abort tests, and has tested the crew escape system.
• The LVM-3 launch vehicle for the mission has virtually completed the process of being rated to carry humans.
• The crew module is still being developed and it would have to be manufactured abroad.
  • Engineers were working on the capsule’s Environmental Control and Life Support System and the overall Integrated Vehicle Health Management System.
• The next major Gaganyaan milestones are a series of uncrewed suborbital and orbital test flights.

Why are India’s Gaganyatris Going to the ISS?

• Background: In 2023, the U.S. and India issued a joint statement after the Indian PM met the US President. The statement mentioned a joint effort to the ISS in 2024.
• What is the ISS mission?
  • The mission called Axiom-4/ Ax-4 (which will last 14 days)is the fourth crewed mission to the ISS organised by Axiom Space – a private company based in Houston.
  • Axiom plans to operate the world’s first commercial space station.
  • As participants of the Ax-4 mission, Mr. Shukla or Mr. Nair will fly to the ISS as the mission pilot along with three other astronauts.
  • SpaceX will provide the launch vehicle for the mission and its Crew Dragon capsule will house the crew.
• How are Gaganyatris selected for the mission?
  • According to ISRO, a National Mission Assignment Board selected Mr. Shukla and Mr. Nair for the joint mission.
  • Their flight to the ISS will need to be approved by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel, which has representatives from the ISS’s five international partners:
    • NASA,
    • Russia’s Roscosmos,
    • The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency,
    • The European Space Agency, and
    • The Canadian Space Agency.
• Purpose of sending Gaganyatris on the mission:
  • The Gaganyatris will undertake selected scientific research and technology demonstration experiments on board the ISS as well as engage in space outreach activities.
  • The experiences gained during this mission will be beneficial for Gaganyaan and it will also strengthen human space flight cooperation between ISRO and NASA.”

Q.1. What is the International Space Station (ISS)?

The ISS is a large space station assembled and maintained in low Earth orbit by a collaboration of five space agencies and their contractors: NASA (US), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), and CSA (Canada) – to perform microgravity and space environment experiments.

Q.2. What is the LVM-3?

The Launch Vehicle Mark-3/ LVM3 is a 3-stage medium-lift launch vehicle developed by the ISRO. Primarily designed to launch communication satellites into geostationary orbit, it is also due to launch crewed missions (Gaganyaan) under the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme.

Source: Indian astronauts to start training for ISS mission

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