{"id":61145,"date":"2025-08-29T11:17:32","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T05:47:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=61145"},"modified":"2025-08-29T11:17:32","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T05:47:32","slug":"indias-samudrayaan-mission-human-deep-sea-exploration-by-2027","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/indias-samudrayaan-mission-human-deep-sea-exploration-by-2027\/","title":{"rendered":"India\u2019s Samudrayaan Mission: Human Deep-Sea Exploration by 2027"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>Samudrayaan Mission Latest News<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two Indian aquanauts, Cdr (Retd) Jatinder Pal Singh and R Ramesh, undertook training dives aboard the French vessel <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nautile<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, reaching depths of 5,002 and 4,025 metres in the Atlantic Ocean earlier this month.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These preparatory missions are crucial for India\u2019s ambitious <\/span><b>Samudrayaan project<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which aims to send three humans 6,000 metres deep into the ocean by 2027.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The experience, much like how Axiom-4 supports Gaganyaan, will provide vital insights for advancing India\u2019s deep-sea exploration capabilities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Samudrayaan Mission: India\u2019s Deep Ocean Exploration Plan<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Samudrayaan Mission<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, part of India\u2019s <\/span><b>Deep Ocean Mission<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> approved in 2021 with an outlay of \u20b94,077 crore over five years, aims to explore and sustainably utilise deep ocean resources.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Its objectives include developing technologies for <\/span><b>deep-sea mining, underwater vehicles, robotics, and a crewed submersible<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to carry three humans up to 6,000 metres below sea level.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other components involve creating:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An ocean climate change advisory service,\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">exploring and conserving deep-sea biodiversity,\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">conducting surveys for mineral deposits, and\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">innovating technologies for deriving energy and freshwater from the ocean.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, the mission will <\/span><b>establish an advanced marine station<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to boost research-to-industry applications in ocean biology and engineering, thereby supporting India\u2019s <\/span><b>blue economy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the coordinating agency leading the development of the human-carrying submersible.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Matsya-6000: India\u2019s Crewed Deep-Sea Submersible<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Matsya-6000<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the specialised vehicle being developed under India\u2019s <\/span><b>Samudrayaan Mission<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to carry three aquanauts to a depth of <\/span><b>6,000 metres<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the ocean.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shaped like a large fish, it houses a <\/span><b>2.1-metre diameter personal sphere<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> designed to safely accommodate the crew.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The submersible will support human life for <\/span><b>12-hour missions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with backup systems ensuring survival for up to <\/span><b>96 hours in emergencies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the initial human trials at <\/span><b>500 metres depth<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a <\/span><b>steel sphere<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will be used, though this material cannot withstand the extreme pressures at 6,000 metres (around <\/span><b>600 times atmospheric pressure at sea level<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the full-scale mission planned for <\/span><b>2027<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the personal sphere will be constructed from a <\/span><b>titanium alloy with 80 mm thickness<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, offering the required strength and durability for deep-sea exploration.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Challenges of India\u2019s Crewed Deep-Sea Mission under Samudrayaan<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s <\/span><b>Samudrayaan Mission<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which aims to send three aquanauts to a depth of <\/span><b>6,000 metres<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, faces multiple scientific, engineering, and human challenges.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Developing a Pressure-Resistant Vessel<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The foremost challenge is building a submersible strong enough to withstand extreme ocean pressure \u2014 nearly 600 times atmospheric pressure at 6,000 metres.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A titanium alloy personal sphere (2.1 m diameter, 80 mm thick) is being developed by ISRO.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The challenge lies in <\/span><b>sourcing titanium<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (a rare and strategically controlled material) and achieving precise electron beam welding, as <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">even a 0.2 mm deviation in thickness could cause catastrophic collapse<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Maintaining a Livable Environment<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inside the confined personal sphere, aquanauts will require a controlled atmosphere with 20% oxygen levels and regulated carbon dioxide scrubbing.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emergency backup systems include packed re-breather oxygen units that recycle exhaled air, similar to diving systems.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Ensuring Aquanaut Health and Safety<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aquanauts must be in peak physical condition to endure long hours under extreme pressure and respond effectively to emergencies.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With no access to washrooms, food and water intake is minimised before and during the mission.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For instance, during a nine-hour test dive to 5,002 metres, Cdr (Retd) Jatinder Pal Singh consumed only a few dry fruits.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Overcoming Communication Barriers<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Radio waves cannot penetrate deep waters<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, making conventional communication impossible.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead, India has developed its own acoustic telephone, which transmits sound waves to receivers near the surface.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Early harbour tests failed due to factors like temperature and salinity, but the system later worked successfully in open sea trials.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>India\u2019s Push for Deep Sea Exploration under the Blue Economy Vision<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India, with its 7,517 km-long coastline, is investing in deep-sea missions as part of its Blue Economy strategy to drive future growth and sustainable resource use.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The deep ocean remains largely unexplored but holds vast reserves of minerals, fuels, and biodiversity, which can boost economic and scientific development.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exploring under-explored domains like the deep sea and outer space will play a crucial role in achieving the government\u2019s vision of \u201cViksit Bharat\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the Samudrayaan Mission, India aims to send humans to 6,000 metres below sea level by 2027, <\/span><b>placing it among the few nations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 including the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">United States, Russia, China, Japan, and France<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 with advanced deep-sea exploration capability.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-sci-tech\/india-aquanauts-deep-sea-exploration-samudrayaan-mission-10214405\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IE<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> | <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1845765\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PIB<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>India\u2019s Samudrayaan Mission aims to send aquanauts 6,000m underwater by 2027, developing submersibles, mining tech, and ocean research for a sustainable Blue Economy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":61157,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[60,2385,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-61145","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-mains-articles","9":"tag-samudrayaan-mission","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61145"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61145\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/61157"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}