Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) provided the first sneak peek into its upcoming manned mission to space- Gaganyaan, scheduled for 2022 at the sixth edition of the Bengaluru space expo held on 6th September.
Committed to send humans to space with the Gaganyaan system module, which ISRO is calling the Orbital Module, ISRO has developed some major technologies such as re-entry mission capability, crew module configuration, thermal protection system, crew escape system, and a prototype of a space suit.
The orange-coloured prototype space suit was developed over the past two years at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram and was put to display at the Bengaluru space expo.
ISRO unveils orange coloured prototype space suit for 2022 Gaganyaan Mission. pic.twitter.com/lo5RxQcyd1
— प्रkash (@iPraksy) September 8, 2018
As per reports, ISRO has developed two of such space suits till date and will also develop a third one prior to the testing of the manned mission in 2022. The space suit comes with a capacity of one oxygen cylinder that claims to hold enough oxygen to last for an hour. The suit is made of four layers and weighs less than 5 kilograms.
Along with the space suit, ISRO also displayed the crew model capsule in which all the three astronauts will travel for five to seven days during flight in the 400-km orbit from the Earth’s surface. According to reports, the manned capsule will have a thermal shield which will ensure that the temperature levels inside the manned capsule remain under 25 degrees Celsius, while it turns into a ball of flame when re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
The capsule is expected to rotate around the Earth every 90 minutes and astronauts will be able to witness sunrise and sunset. The three astronauts can also see India from space twice every 24 hours while conducting experiments on microgravity.
The display comes weeks after our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on the occasion of the 72nd Independence day, announced from the ramparts of the iconic Red Fort, an ambitious timeline to launch its first crewed mission by 2022 in time to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the country’s independence.
ISRO chairman K Sivan stated soon after PM’s announcement that what the PM said is highly doable and ISRO has been working on it. As a matter of extreme pride with the announcement of the ‘Gaganyan’ came another briefing that the ISRO Human Space Flight Project will be headed by a woman, Dr VR Lalithambika, currently the Deputy Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSCC).
While the entire country is optimistic of witnessing former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s dream project come true, the immensely talented women of India handling the crucial responsibilities at the mission brings positivism to millions of girls who can now believe that with sheer dedication and commitment nothing seems to be unachievable.
