Gaganyaan Mission : ISRO to send Indian into space by 2022
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ISRO Press Release - SFA Signing
Aug 02, 2024
India-USA joint statement during the official state visit of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to the USA in June 2023 envisions a joint ISRO-NASA effort to the International Space Station (ISS).
Towards the goal of mounting a joint ISRO-NASA effort, the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) of ISRO has entered into a Space Flight Agreement (SFA) with NASA-identified service provider M/s Axiom Space Inc.,USA for its upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the ISS. A National Mission Assignment Board has recommended two Gaganyatris as prime and backup Mission Pilot for this mission. These are Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (Prime) and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair (Backup). The assigned crewmembers will be finally approved to fly to the International Space Station by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP).
The recommended Gaganyatris will commence their training for the mission from 1st week of August2024. During the mission, the Gaganyatri will undertake selected scientific research and technology demonstration experiments on board the ISS as well as engage in space outreach activities. The experiences gained during this mission will be beneficial for the Indian Human Space Program and it will also strengthen human space flight cooperation between ISRO & NASA.
ISRO Press Release - SFA Signing
Aug 02, 2024
India-USA joint statement during the official state visit of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to the USA in June 2023 envisions a joint ISRO-NASA effort to the International Space Station (ISS).
Towards the goal of mounting a joint ISRO-NASA effort, the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) of ISRO has entered into a Space Flight Agreement (SFA) with NASA-identified service provider M/s Axiom Space Inc.,USA for its upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the ISS. A National Mission Assignment Board has recommended two Gaganyatris as prime and backup Mission Pilot for this mission. These are Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (Prime) and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair (Backup). The assigned crewmembers will be finally approved to fly to the International Space Station by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP).
The recommended Gaganyatris will commence their training for the mission from 1st week of August2024. During the mission, the Gaganyatri will undertake selected scientific research and technology demonstration experiments on board the ISS as well as engage in space outreach activities. The experiences gained during this mission will be beneficial for the Indian Human Space Program and it will also strengthen human space flight cooperation between ISRO & NASA.
ISRO Press Release - SFA Signing
A photo of the Gaganyaan capsule's prototype flight computer user interface under testing:
L110 stage at SDSC-SHAR for Gaganyaan-1 uncrewed mission. Notice the interstage in the background:
Engine labeled G-1.
The black spherical tanks contain Helium gas. Helium is use to maintain pressure inside the propellant tanks.
Video:
ISRO planned to have Gaganyaan-1 flight by April 2024 & Gaganyaan-2 by December 2024. Now it seems G-1 flight has been delayed to September/October & G-2 will probably be in Q1 next year.
TV-D2 will also probably happen next month.
Engine labeled G-1.
The black spherical tanks contain Helium gas. Helium is use to maintain pressure inside the propellant tanks.
Video:
ISRO planned to have Gaganyaan-1 flight by April 2024 & Gaganyaan-2 by December 2024. Now it seems G-1 flight has been delayed to September/October & G-2 will probably be in Q1 next year.
TV-D2 will also probably happen next month.
Gaganyaan facilities under various stages of construction:
Orbital Module Preparation Facility (OMPF) at Sriharikota:
Gaganyaan Control Facility (GCF) at Sriharikota:
ECLSS Facility at Devanahali:
Orbital Module Preparation Facility (OMPF) at Sriharikota:
Gaganyaan Control Facility (GCF) at Sriharikota:
ECLSS Facility at Devanahali:
The Russian Sokol KV2 IVA suits have been delivered to ISRO along with the seat assemblies.
ECLSS is a critical piece of technology for spacefaring. Like the suits the ECLSS was initially planned to be acquired from abroad. But that wasn't to be. So ISRO has developed their own.
A reduced configuration version of ISRO's ECLSS will be onboard the Gaganyaan G1 mission.
Crew module & service module for the Gaganyaan G-1 flight:
ECLSS is a critical piece of technology for spacefaring. Like the suits the ECLSS was initially planned to be acquired from abroad. But that wasn't to be. So ISRO has developed their own.
A reduced configuration version of ISRO's ECLSS will be onboard the Gaganyaan G1 mission.
Crew module & service module for the Gaganyaan G-1 flight:
How ISRO designed humanoid skull which will be used in Gaganyaan
The design for Vyomitra’s skull, fashioned by ISRO’s Inertial Systems Unit in the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, was finalized recently.
Written by Anjali Marar
Bengaluru | Updated: August 31, 2024, 19:51 IST
Final skull design with lattice structures. Journal of Institution of Engineers, India
The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO’s) uncrewed Gaganyaan mission in 2025 will carry the female half humanoid Vyomitra (literally “space friend”). The design for Vyomitra’s skull, fashioned by ISRO’s Inertial Systems Unit in the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, was finalised recently.
What are humanoids?
Humanoids (or half-humanoids) are robotic systems designed to resemble humans — Vyomitra comes with movable arms, a torso, a face, and a neck — and function autonomously in space.
In general, robotic systems are used to assist astronauts in performing repetitive and/or dangerous tasks in space, like cleaning of solar panels or fixing faulty equipment located outside the spacecraft. This protects astronauts and allows them to work on the scientific mission at hand.
Why will ISRO send a humanoid to space next year?
Next year’s mission is primarily designed to be a technology demonstration of the Vyomitra. It will see the half humanoid use its robotic arms to perform operations at the crew console, visually monitor various systems inside the crew module, and communicate with the Earth-based mission control team.
ISRO will evaluate the performance of the robot’s technology to measure the likely impacts of space travel on human beings, ahead of India’s first crewed mission planned for later in 2025.
How did ISRO design the humanoid skull for Vyomitra?
The recently designed Vyomitra skull will house the key components of the robot. It has been made using an aluminium alloy (AlSi10Mg) known for its high flexibility, light weight, heat resistance, and mechanical properties. This alloy is commonly used for making automotive engines and aerospace components.
Crucially, the skull has been designed to be incredibly sturdy, capable of withstanding some extreme vibrational loads that are experienced during a rocket launch. The high strength of the aluminium alloy offers a yield strength of more than 220 MegaPascals (1 MPa = 1 million pascals). Yield strength refers to the maximum stress that can be applied to a material before it begins to deform permanently.
The humanoid skull model has dimensions of 200mm x 200mm and weighs only 800 grams.
AlSi10Mg is also amenable to the Additive Manufacturing (or AM) technique. This is how the humanoid skull was created. AM enables easy induction of lattice structures, as incorporated in the humanoid skull design. Importantly, it helps in significant reduction of the overall weight of the final product. Unlike conventional manufacturing techniques, AM follows a process in which a desired part or product is created in a layered manner, a commonly deployed mechanism in 3D printing.
Sturdy yet flexible, lightweight materials are often used to build payloads for space missions. This is because heavier the payload, more the fuel required to reach space, and larger the rocket needed.
How ISRO designed humanoid skull which will be used in Gaganyaan
The design for Vyomitra’s skull, fashioned by ISRO’s Inertial Systems Unit in the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, was finalized recently.
Written by Anjali Marar
Bengaluru | Updated: August 31, 2024, 19:51 IST
Final skull design with lattice structures. Journal of Institution of Engineers, India
The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO’s) uncrewed Gaganyaan mission in 2025 will carry the female half humanoid Vyomitra (literally “space friend”). The design for Vyomitra’s skull, fashioned by ISRO’s Inertial Systems Unit in the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, was finalised recently.
What are humanoids?
Humanoids (or half-humanoids) are robotic systems designed to resemble humans — Vyomitra comes with movable arms, a torso, a face, and a neck — and function autonomously in space.
In general, robotic systems are used to assist astronauts in performing repetitive and/or dangerous tasks in space, like cleaning of solar panels or fixing faulty equipment located outside the spacecraft. This protects astronauts and allows them to work on the scientific mission at hand.
Why will ISRO send a humanoid to space next year?
Next year’s mission is primarily designed to be a technology demonstration of the Vyomitra. It will see the half humanoid use its robotic arms to perform operations at the crew console, visually monitor various systems inside the crew module, and communicate with the Earth-based mission control team.
ISRO will evaluate the performance of the robot’s technology to measure the likely impacts of space travel on human beings, ahead of India’s first crewed mission planned for later in 2025.
How did ISRO design the humanoid skull for Vyomitra?
The recently designed Vyomitra skull will house the key components of the robot. It has been made using an aluminium alloy (AlSi10Mg) known for its high flexibility, light weight, heat resistance, and mechanical properties. This alloy is commonly used for making automotive engines and aerospace components.
Crucially, the skull has been designed to be incredibly sturdy, capable of withstanding some extreme vibrational loads that are experienced during a rocket launch. The high strength of the aluminium alloy offers a yield strength of more than 220 MegaPascals (1 MPa = 1 million pascals). Yield strength refers to the maximum stress that can be applied to a material before it begins to deform permanently.
The humanoid skull model has dimensions of 200mm x 200mm and weighs only 800 grams.
AlSi10Mg is also amenable to the Additive Manufacturing (or AM) technique. This is how the humanoid skull was created. AM enables easy induction of lattice structures, as incorporated in the humanoid skull design. Importantly, it helps in significant reduction of the overall weight of the final product. Unlike conventional manufacturing techniques, AM follows a process in which a desired part or product is created in a layered manner, a commonly deployed mechanism in 3D printing.
Sturdy yet flexible, lightweight materials are often used to build payloads for space missions. This is because heavier the payload, more the fuel required to reach space, and larger the rocket needed.
How ISRO designed humanoid skull which will be used in Gaganyaan
MIDHANI's contribution to the Gaganyaan mission:
Titanium casting & forging to make parts of Gaganyaan's crew module:
Titanium alloy gas bottles:
For Gaganyaan's skin:
Titanium casting & forging to make parts of Gaganyaan's crew module:
Titanium alloy gas bottles:
For Gaganyaan's skin: