Gaganyaan Space Mission

Gaganyaan Mission: Relevance

• GS 3: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

Gaganyaan Mission: Context

• Recently, Union Minister of Science & Technology said that India’s maiden human space mission “Gaganyaan” will be launched in 2023.

Gaganyaan Mission update

• The Minister has said that with this launch, India will become the fourth nation in the world to launch a Human Spaceflight Mission after USA, Russia and China.
• More than 500 Industries are involved in the launch of Gaganyaan with several research modules including indigenous health research module.
• The major missions viz., Test vehicle flight for the validation of Crew Escape System performance and the 1st Uncrewed mission of Gaganyaan (G1) are scheduled during the beginning of 2nd half of 2022.
• This will be followed by second uncrewed mission at the end of 2022 carrying “Vyommitra” a spacefaring human robot developed by ISROand finally the first crewed Gaganyaan mission in 2023.

What is Gaganyaan Programme?

• The Gaganyaan Programme envisages undertaking the demonstration of human spaceflight to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in the short-term and will lay the foundation for a sustained Indian human space exploration programme in the long run.

 Gaganyaan programme aim

• The objective of Gaganyaan programme is to demonstrate indigenous capability to undertake human space flight mission to LEO.
• As part of this programme, two unmanned missions and one manned mission are approved by Government of India (GoI).

Gaganyaan programme benefits

• Progress towards a sustained and affordable human and robotic programme to explore the solar system and beyond.
• Advanced technology capability for undertaking human space exploration, sample return missions and scientific exploration.
• Future capability to actively collaborate in global space station development & to carry out scientific experiments of interest to the nation.
• Create a broad frame work for wider Academia – Industry partnership in taking up development activities for national development.
• Ample scope for employment generation and human resource development in advanced science and R&D activities.
• Unique opportunity to inspire and excite Indian youth and steer many students toward careers in science and technology towards challenging jobs that encourage knowledge, innovation and creativity.
• The programme will strengthen international partnerships and global security through the sharing of challenging and peaceful goals. Having a vibrant human spaceflight programme can be leveraged as a potent foreign policy tool.

Gaganyaan programme cost

• The total cost of Gaganyaan Programme is around 9023 crores.

Gaganyaan programme implementation

• The overall programme co-ordination, systems engineering and implementation will be carried out by ISRO.

Gaganyaan Mission: Implementing agencies

• Indian Armed Forces
• Defence Research Development organisation
• Indian maritime agencies – Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Shipping corporation of India, National institute of Oceanography, National Institute of Ocean Technology.
• Indian Meteorological Department
• CSIR Labs
• Academic institutes
• Industry partners

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