ISRO
THE HEAVEN OF PHYSICS
December 02, 2023
The Gaganyaan mission aims to launch a spaceflight of a three-member crew into a 400 km orbit for a 3-day mission, ensuring a safe return to Earth by landing in the Indian Sea water.
Photo Credit: ISRO
Mission prerequisites: Critical technologies required for the Gaganyaan mission include a human-rated launch vehicle, a life support system, crew emergency escape provisions and comprehensive crew management for training, recovery and rehabilitation.
Photo Credit: ISRO
Human-rated LVM3: The well-proven LVM3 rocket, a reliable heavy-lift launcher from ISRO, is selected for the Gaganyaan mission to meet human rating requirements.
Photo Credit: ISRO
Launch vehiicle configuration: HLMV3 is equipped with solid, liquid and cryogenic stages. It will carry the Orbital Module to an intended Low Earth Orbit of 400 km.
Photo Credit: ISRO
Crew Escape System (CES): HLVM3 features a crew escape system powered by quick-acting, high-burn rate solid motors which ensures the safe evacuation of the Crew Module and crew in case of emergencies during launch or ascent.
Photo Credit: ISRO
Orbital Module (OM): The OM consists of the Crew Module (CM) and the Service Module (SM). The OM orbits the earth and is equipped with a avionics system, ensuring redundancy for human safety.
Photo Credit: ISRO
Crew Module (CM) Design: The CM, the habitable space for the crew in Earth-like conditions, has a double-walled construction.
Photo Credit: ISRO
It includes a pressure metallic inner structure, an unpressurized external structure with a Thermal Protection System, crew interfaces, a life support system, avionics and a deceleration system.
Photo Credit: ISRO
Service Module (SM): The SM supports the CM in orbit, featuring an unpressurized structure with thermal, propulsion, power and avionics system, along with deployment mechanisms.
Photo Credit: ISRO