India is actively working on its Gaganyaan mission, aiming to take humans into space. On Tuesday, the astronauts associated with this mission were announced. Russia plays a crucial role in India’s space aspirations, providing spacesuits for Indian space travelers.
Highlights
- India is preparing for the Gaganyaan mission.
- The mission aims to send humans into space.
- Indian astronauts will wear spacesuits made in Russia.
Moscow
India has successfully sent its spacecraft to Mars and landed a rover on the Moon. Now, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up to take humans into space. The preparations for the first human spaceflight, Gaganyaan, are in full swing, with four astronauts selected for the mission. Russia, a significant partner in this venture, is contributing by providing spacesuits for Indian space travelers.
Ensuring Double Security for Indian Astronauts
In an effort to prioritize the safety of the crew and meet programmatic requirements, India has decided to utilize Russian spacesuits for the Gaganyaan mission. While ISRO has also been working on an Indigenous Intravehicular Activity (IVA) suit, developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, the decision to incorporate Russian spacesuits aims to enhance the safety of the driver’s team during the mission.
Indian Air Force Group Captain Prashant Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishna, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Subhanshu Shukla have been chosen for this mission. The selected astronauts have been undergoing training for the Gaganyaan mission in facilities in both India and Russia over the past five years.
Russian Spacesuits in the Making
Reports indicate that the four astronauts have already traveled to Russia for spacesuit trials. Last year, the Russian space agency Roscosmos’s subsidiary Glavkosmos mentioned in a statement, “On September 3, 2023, Indian astronauts visited Star City, where their measurements were taken for the production of spacesuits.” While ISRO Chairman S. Somanath mentioned last month that 2024 would be the year of Gaganyaan, the mission involves launching a crew of four individuals into space for three days, covering a distance of 400 km and ensuring their safe return.
ISRO’s Stringent Tests and Preparations
Before sending humans into space, ISRO plans to conduct various tests and programs to achieve a 100% success rate. The Gaganyaan mission involves more than launching astronauts; it requires the development of life support systems and several technologies to ensure the safe travel of the driver’s team into space. The announcement of the astronauts’ names by ISRO on Tuesday marked another milestone in India’s ambitious journey into space.
Note: Image is for illustrative purposes only and may not represent the actual spacesuits for Gaganyaan astronauts.