ISRO sets ’22 target for human space odyssey

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 28

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had long ago started building blocks to realise the dream of joining a select group of countries to send a human on a space odyssey. It now plans to start the mission by despatching two unmanned flights before the target date of 2022, set by PM Narendra Modi.

The manned space progamme was off the drawing board in 2004 but did not acquire the pace. With PM Modi declaring this August 15 India’s intent to send a “daughter or a son from Indian soil and Indian vehicle” in space, ISRO on Tuesday announced a six-point objective of the Rs 10,000 crore mission.

At a press conference here with Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in PMO (Space), ISRO Chairman K Sivan said that while the task is a great responsibility and challenging, the organisation is capable of accomplishing it by sending the ‘Gaganyaan’. 

“This is the most ambitious space programme undertaken by ISRO till date and is essential as it will give a big boost to science and technology development within the country,” Dr Sivan said. 

GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle, which has the necessary payload capability for this mission, would be used to launch Gaganyaan. Two unmanned Gaganyaan missions will be undertaken prior to sending humans. The total programme is expected to be completed before 2022 with first unmanned flight within 30 months. The mission will aim to send a three-member crew to space for a period of five to seven days. The spacecraft will be placed in a low earth orbit of 300-400 km. 

The space vehicle will comprise a crew module, service module and orbital module, weighing approximately 7 tonne, and will be carried by a rocket. The crew module’s size will be 3.7 mts x 7 mts. The crew will do microgravity experiment during the mission. 

Mission objectives 

• Enhancement of science and technology levels 
• National project involving several institutes, academia and industry
• Improvement of industrial growth; inspiring youth
• Development of technology for social benefits
• Improving international collaboration