ISRO and Indian Navy conduct key trials for Gaganyaan mission.

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), along with the Indian Navy, has conducted an important trial for the Gaganyaan, human space flight mission.
• Recently they carried out initial recovery trials of the Crew Module in the Navy’s Water Survival Test Facility (WSTF) in Kochi.
• The trials were part of the preparation for crew module recovery operations for the Gaganyaan mission that will be carried out in Indian waters with the participation of Indian Government agencies.
• The overall recovery operations are being led by the Indian Navy.

Significance of the trial:

• According to ISRO, as the safe recovery of the crew is the final step to be accomplished for any successful human spaceflight, it is of paramount importance and it has to be carried out with the minimum lapse of time.
• These trials assist in validating the SoP, and training recovery teams as well as the flight crew.
• They provide valuable inputs for the utilization of recovery accessories.
• The feedback from the recovery team/trainers helps improve the recovery operations SoP, design various recovery accessories, and finalize the training plan.

About Gaganyaan project

• The Gaganyaan project envisages demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members to an orbit of 400 km for a three day mission and bringing them back safely to earth, by landing in Indian sea waters.
• The first trial (uncrewed flight) for Gaganyaan is being planned by the end of 2023 or early 2024. This will be followed by sending Vyom Mitra, a humanoid and then with the crew onboard.
• This manned mission will be the first of ISRO’s human spaceflight missions.
  • The US, Russia and China are the only three countries to have conducted human spaceflights yet.
• It will be launched by ISRO’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV Mk III (3 stages heavy-lift vehicle).

Significance of the mission

• It will help India in achieving self-reliance, in line with the vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat and also boost the capacity development in launching satellites under the Make in India Initiative.
• It will also enhance the research and development (R&D) at science and technology levels especially in the space sector.
• It is in line with India’s progress towards a sustained and affordable human and robotic programme to explore the solar system and beyond.
• Gaganyaan will focus on regional needs because one International Space Station (ISS) may not be enough to cater to global requirements.
• The programme will strengthen international partnerships and global security through the sharing of challenging and peaceful goals.