Gaganyaan Mission – ISRO’s Human Spaceflight Programme

About Gaganyaan Mission

• Gaganyaan is India’s first crewed space mission, undertaken by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation).
  
• The mission aims to send Indian astronauts to Low Earth Orbit(LEO) of 400 km for up to 3 days and return them safely.
  
• With this, India will become the fourth country in the world (after the USA, Russia, and China) to conduct human spaceflight independently.
  
• The mission was initially planned for 2022, but due to COVID-19 delays and safety priorities, it has now been rescheduled to the first quarter of 2027.
  

Objectives of the Gaganyaan Mission

• Show India’s ability to operate human spaceflight on its own.
• Improve India’s technological and scientific expertise in space systems, life support, crew safety, and re-entry.
• Establish the foundation for upcoming missions such as space stations, lunar missions, and deep space travel.
• Encourage STEM learning and build public enthusiasm for space science and innovation

Components of Gaganyaan Mission

To ensure safety of astronauts in the Gaganyaan Mission, ISRO had to add many next generation safety and precaution layers. This involved development of such essential technologies such as Human-rated launch vehicle, a crew escape system, a life-support system and a habitable orbital module compatible for manned spaceflight.

A. Human-Rated Launch Vehicle (HRLV)

• The launch vehicle for Gaganyaan is a modified version of ISRO’s LVM3, formerly known as GSLV Mk III.

• Equipped with a three-stage propulsion system: solid stage, liquid stage, and cryogenic stage.
• Modified to integrate critical systems like the Crew Escape System (CES) and Orbital Module, ensuring astronaut safety during all phases of flight.

B. Orbital Module

• Comprises of two parts:
  
  • Crew Module (CM) – It consists of a human habitable module, with crew communication, navigation, guidance and avionics system. It will house up to three astronauts for a week.
  • Service Module (SM) – contains propulsion system, thermal system, power systems, and deployment mechanisms. It provides necessary support to the Crew Module while in orbit.
    

C. Crew Escape System (CES)

To ensure the Astronauts’ safety, various In-flight Abort Demonstrations of Crew Escape System (CES) have been included.

• TV-D1 (Test Vehicle – Demonstration 1):
  
  • It is the first of the two abort missions to test the safety mechanisms and demonstrates the performance of the Crew Escape System of the Gaganyaan Mission.
  • This has also confirmed the functioning of systems for separating the crew module from the rocket in case of a mid-flight emergency (abort and escape mission of the astronauts).
  • Hence, it will allow the Gaganyaan crew to leave the spacecraft in an emergency.

Different Phases of the Gaganyaan Mission

To ensure the success and safety of the Gaganyaan Mission, ISRO has structured it in phases—starting with test demonstrations, followed by unmanned flights, and finally the manned spaceflight.

1. Testing Phase

Several critical safety systems and technologies are being validated before the actual missions through various test demonstrations:

• Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT): Conducted using IAF helicopters to evaluate the deceleration system (parachutes and pyro mechanisms).
  
• Pad Abort Test (PAT): Simulates crew module separation under emergency conditions to study impact and performance.
  
• Test Vehicle (TV) Flights: Involves single-stage liquid rockets designed to test abort and escape systems mid-flight.
  

2. Unmanned Missions

ISRO plans two unmanned test missions before the final human flight. These missions aim to:

• Demonstrate and verify the safety, reliability, and performance of all systems.
  
• Include advanced testing such as parachute airdrops, test vehicle launches, and abort mechanisms.
  
• Test key systems onboard using full instrumentation and environmental simulations.
  

3. Vyommitra: The Space Robot

• Vyommitra is a female humanoid robot developed by ISRO.
• She will fly aboard unmanned test missions to mimic human physiological conditions, operate control panels, and provide feedback on the crew module environment.

4. Manned Mission

• The final phase of the Gaganyaan programme will be the human spaceflight, carrying up to three Indian astronauts into low Earth orbit for a duration of up to 3 days.
  
• This mission will only be launched after successful completion of the unmanned flights and validation of all mission-critical systems.

Significance of Gaganyaan Mission

• Establishes India as a leading spacefaring nation with indigenous human spaceflight capabilities.
  
• Increases national technological autonomy and Make in India in high-end aerospace.
  
• Paves the way for international collaboration, commercial astronaut training, and space tourism in the future.
  
• Strengthens  India’s defense space capabilities and strategic presence in outer space.
  
• Provides inspiration for youth engagement in science and technology, creating future innovators.
  

Challenges in Gaganyaan Mission

• Developing reliable life-support and crew safety systems from scratch.
  
• Ensuring human-rating of launch vehicles and systems.
  
• Managing complex re-entry and safe landing of crew on Earth.
  
• High mission cost (₹10,000 crore approved budget), requiring effective budget management and execution.
  
• Training astronauts for both normal and emergency space conditions.