Indian Human Spaceflight Program (HSP)

[Indx TechStyle]

View attachment 174607

For info of all members, ISRO will be using Russian Sokol space suits for initial missions.

Developing a dependable and safe indigenous space suit may take a long while now since all of the indigenous projects are mere untested proposals.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Well, WTF? That would suck. All these two decades in developing GSLV Mk III would be a waste then since GSLV Mk III program was itself started for human spaceflight. They must take more time for human rating even if it gets delayed by few more years.
There would be no point an "indigenous" human space mission on an imported rocket. At least the launch vehicle and crew module should be minimum requirement for demonstration of technological power projection of human spaceflight.

India in preliminary talks with Russia to fly astronauts on Soyuz rocket: Roscosmos- Republic World

India is among the list of nations that are planning to send their astronauts on space missions aboard Russia’s Soyuz rockets, said Roscosmos Human Space Flight Programs Executive Director Sergei Krikalev per Sputnik. The official revealed that Russia is also in preliminary talks with Mongolia...

m.republicworld.com

India in preliminary talks with Russia to fly astronauts on Soyuz rocket: Roscosmos

 

[Vamsi]

Well, WTF? That would suck. All these two decades in developing GSLV Mk III would be a waste then since GSLV Mk III program was itself started for human spaceflight. They must take more time for human rating even if it gets delayed by few more years.
There would be no point an "indigenous" human space mission on an imported rocket. At least the launch vehicle and crew module should be minimum requirement for demonstration of technological power projection of human spaceflight.

India in preliminary talks with Russia to fly astronauts on Soyuz rocket: Roscosmos- Republic World

India is among the list of nations that are planning to send their astronauts on space missions aboard Russia’s Soyuz rockets, said Roscosmos Human Space Flight Programs Executive Director Sergei Krikalev per Sputnik. The official revealed that Russia is also in preliminary talks with Mongolia...

m.republicworld.com

India in preliminary talks with Russia to fly astronauts on Soyuz rocket: Roscosmos

GSLV Mk-3 human rating is already completed. ISRO is facing challenges in developing the ECLSS. The above article meant that we might be send astronauts from Russia.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

GSLV Mk-3 human rating is already completed.

No, not yet.

 

[Vamsi]

No, not yet.

Yes it is, chairman said that

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Yes it is, chairman said that

Unmanned Gaganyaan is the criteria for final human rating. So far, no in-flight tests we have seen for human rating.

 

[Vamsi]

Unmanned Gaganyaan is the criteria for final human rating.

I agree....but proposal to launch our astronauts onboard Soyuz came even in 2009 & I would say take that news article with a truck load of salt

 

[TopWatcher]

I agree....but proposal to launch our astronauts onboard Soyuz came even in 2009 & I would say take that news article with a truck load of salt

If ISRO do this then surely face heat from public. All the time invested might used in other project.

 

[Vamsi]

If ISRO do this then surely face heat from public. All the time invested might used in other project.

Sending our boys on Soyuz doesn't mean dumping Gaganyaan, Gaganyaan will definitely happen.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

‘Can read, talk’: ISRO’s humanoid Vyommitra’s skills get a lift-off with digital grey matter
The robot to have ability to operate and read the display panels aboard the unmanned test flight and communicate with the ISRO ground stations.

Vyommitra is a half-humanoid lacking lower limbs. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

‘Vyommitra’, the humanoid designed and developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to fly aboard unmanned test missions ahead of the Gaganyaan human space-flight mission, is undergoing pre-flight ground tests at the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) here.

Over the past few months, IISU has successfully integrated it with a computer ‘brain’ which enables it to ‘read’ control panels aboard the unmanned test flights and communicate with the ISRO ground stations, IISU director Sam Dayala Dev told The Hindu.

ISRO and IISU were in the news when they unveiled Vyommitra — the ‘female’ robot astronaut — in 2020. Vyommitra is a half-humanoid lacking lower limbs. IISU was responsible for the design, development, and integration of the robot, while sister ISRO centre Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) at Thumba here developed its fingers.

The AI-enabled robot is designed to fly aboard a rocket, withstanding vibrations and shock during the flight, the IISU director said. It has been designed to resemble a human with facial expressions and speech and sight capabilities, he said.

‘’It has a certain level of intelligence. What we intend is that it should operate and read the display panels and communicate back to us using its own voice,’‘ he said. Vyommitra will fly aboard the first unmanned test flight ahead of the crewed Gaganyaan flight expected in 2024.

The IISU, which designs and develops navigational systems for ISRO launch vehicles, had special teams working on the humanoid over the past several months.

In the meantime, Vyommitra is also set to get a digital twin. The ‘twin’ will undergo computer simulations where the control systems are tested for microgravity conditions. The twin will be developed in collaboration with academic institutions like the IITs.

In September this year, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, had indicated that the first unmanned test-flight of the Gaganyaan mission would take place later this year. The Gaganyaan programme would demonstrate human spaceflight by sending a crew of three astronauts to the 400-km Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and bringing them back safely.

• ‘Vyommitra’, the humanoid designed and developed by the ISRO to fly aboard unmanned test missions ahead of the Gaganyaan human space-flight mission, is undergoing pre-flight ground tests.

• IISU has successfully integrated it with a computer ‘brain’ which enables it to ‘read’ control panels aboard the unmanned test flights and communicate with the ISRO ground stations.

• The AI-enabled robot, which can withstand vibrations and shock during the flight, has been designed to resemble a human with facial expressions and speech and sight capabilities.

 

[WarmongerLSK]

‘Can read, talk’: ISRO’s humanoid Vyommitra’s skills get a lift-off with digital grey matter
The robot to have ability to operate and read the display panels aboard the unmanned test flight and communicate with the ISRO ground stations.

Vyommitra is a half-humanoid lacking lower limbs. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

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What is the function of the robot in the mission? Reading, interpreting and sending the data back in its own voice can be done by a normal computer without limbs and all right? So, what are the limbs for?
Also, can someone on the ground control her?

 

[Indx TechStyle]

What is the function of the robot in the mission? Reading, interpreting and sending the data back in its own voice can be done by a normal computer without limbs and all right? So, what are the limbs for?
Also, can someone on the ground control her?

Nothing more than a human dummy for mock drill of a human space mission.

 

[WarmongerLSK]

Nothing more than a human dummy for mock drill of a human space mission.

Oh! Then why spend time on developing it?

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Oh! Then why spend time on developing it?

Since a non-robo effigy won't be enough for simulation and data engineering. Plus ISRO Vyomanauts might be getting robo partners like robonauts.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

6 test launches LOL. Forget about it for 7-8 years.

ISRO plans to launch Chandrayaan-3, its third mission to the moon, in June next year with a more robust lunar rover onboard which is crucial for future inter-planetary explorations. The space agency has also lined up the first test flight of the 'abort mission' for Gaganyaan, the country's first human spaceflight, early next year.

He said ISRO plans to fly Indian astronauts into orbit by the end of 2024 after carrying out successful abort missions and uncrewed test flights.

On the human spaceflight Gaganyaan, Somnath said ISRO would carry out six test flights before actually flying humans into orbit.

Somnath said the preparations for the Gaganyaan mission were progressing at a "slow and steady pace".

"This is the right way to put it. It is a very complex mission. We cannot boast about it. It requires very critical steps to be crossed," he said.

The first un-crewed flight of Gaganyaan will be after two abort missions to demonstrate that the space agency has the capabilities to rescue the crew in case of any eventuality.

The first abort mission is likely to be carried out in trans-sonic conditions when the spacecraft is travelling at the speed of sound after reaching an altitude of 10-15 kms, Somnath said.

The second would entail demonstrating crew rescue capabilities when the spacecraft is travelling at twice the speed of sound and in "not so good" aerodynamic conditions.

As part of the abort mission, the space scientists will have to sail the crew from the launch vehicle using a saving system, land the capsule carrying the crew in water and collect it.

"If this is successful, we will repeat it once again and then we will go for an unmanned mission. The unmanned mission will be a full-fledged rocket. It will go to orbit, then it will come back," Somnath said.

"We will repeat the abort missions two more times followed by another unmanned mission," he said, adding that the human space flight will happen if these six test flights are successful.

Chandrayaan-3 launch in June next year, says ISRO chairman

India's maiden attempt to land a rover on the moon ended in failure after the Vikram lander onboard the Chandrayaan-2 mission crashed on the surface of the moon in September 2019.

m.economictimes.com

 

[Akula]

6 test launches LOL. Forget about it for 7-8 years.

Chandrayaan-3 launch in June next year, says ISRO chairman

India's maiden attempt to land a rover on the moon ended in failure after the Vikram lander onboard the Chandrayaan-2 mission crashed on the surface of the moon in September 2019.

m.economictimes.com

4 abort missions+ 2 unmanned missions.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

4 abort missions+ 2 unmanned missions.

2 abort tests are apart from earlier 2 launches.

Somnath said ISRO would carry out six test flights before actually flying humans into orbit.


The first un-crewed flight of Gaganyaan will be after two abort missions

The second would entail demonstrating crew rescue capabilities when the spacecraft is travelling at twice the speed of sound and in "not so good" aerodynamic conditions.

As part of the abort mission, the space scientists will have to sail the crew from the launch vehicle using a saving system, land the capsule carrying the crew in water and collect it.

"If this is successful, we will repeat it once again and then we will go for an unmanned mission.

"We will repeat the abort missions two more times followed by another unmanned mission,"

 

[Vamsi]

Integrated Air Drop tests will start from Feb 2023, & 1st unmanned launch in Dec 2023, Environmental Control & Life Support System will be indigenous...this is probably the main reason behind the delay of Gaganyaan...

ISRO Plans Gaganyaan Mission's 1st Test Flight In February 2023: Report

The Indian Space Research Organisation or ISRO will start a series of test flights for India's maiden human space flight mission from February next year, a senior official told Press Trust of India today.

www.google.com

 

[Indx TechStyle]

India’s first manned space mission by end of 2024 or early 2025: ISRO top official
Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) director R Umamaheshwaran explained that the proposed manned space flight will travel a distance of 400 km from Earth and will last two to three days.

Representative Image

After a string of delays, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is looking to demonstrate the capabilities of its Gaganyaan mission by end of 2023, and then go ahead with India’s first manned space mission by either the end of 2024 or early 2025, R Umamaheshwaran, director of ISRO’s Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) said on Thursday, October 27.

Umamaheshwaran, who was speaking on the second day of the India Space Congress in New Delhi, explained that the proposed manned space flight will travel a distance of 400 km from Earth and will last two to three days.

“Four are being trained. We are mostly going for Air Force test pilots. They are much more tuned to harsh environments and they are trained to react,” Umamaheshwaran told reporters on the sidelines of the event.

The HSFC director said that the launch vehicle that will take the astronauts to the 400-km mark is almost ready, and that all tests have been completed.

“In regards to the crew module, where the humans are supposed to sit and fly, designs have been completed. And it is currently in the application stage. In three to six months it will be ready,” he said.

Right now, the HSFC is working on the environmental control system, which will provide ambient conditions for astronauts to survive.

“We have decided that we will do that on our own. This design is in the final stage. We need to test and demonstrate that everything is safe. The crew has to be safe. That is paramount,” he said.

Before the unmanned test flight is taken up at end of 2023, around 16-17 tests have to be conducted, Umamaheshwaran added. One of these tests will examine how the escape system of the launch vehicle works.

“A test vehicle, which is the modified liquid stage of GSLV, will go up to 15-20 km altitude. Then at different altitude levels, we will create failure and test whether the crew escape system works,” he added.

Conceived in 2007, the Gaganyaan mission has been delayed due to several reasons, ranging from the technological -- such as working on crew escape system technologies -- to setbacks arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Umamaheshwaran also said that discussions were underway to launch the Indian Space Station by 2030-35. For facilitating that launch, ISRO is currently working on a new launch vehicle called NGLV or Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), which he expects to be ready by 2030.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Human-rated launch vehicle 'practically' ready: HSFC director at IISc space conference

BENGALURU: The human-rated launch vehicle that will carry Indian astronauts to space and back as part of the human spaceflight mission — Gaganyaan — is "practically" ready and work on other key technologies is making progress.

Isro has been human-rating (making the systems reliable to carry humans) the GSLV-Mk3 or the LVM3 as the agency now calls it, for the Gaganyaan mission.

R Umamaheshwaran, director, Isro Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC), said on Saturday: "Human-rated LVM3 is all complete. Launch vehicle is practically ready now."

Speaking at the one-day symposium on 'Space Biology and Biotechnology' organised by IISc, he said the rocket's successful use of the spent cryogenic upper stage (CUS), for the first time, to carry out manouvres has further added to the reliability of LVM3.

Aloke Kumar, associate professor at IISc and the chair of the conference said: "Indian science and technology community has been enthused by Gaganyaan, which necessitates a strong enmeshing of Indian academia with mission-oriented R&D and the global community and this first-of-its-kind conference will help bring experts and ideas together."

The one-day symposium brought in international, national, and industry experts to discuss challenges related to the topic.

It featured several talks by experts on problems related to human space flight and biological issues and challenges.

"We have the crew module technology. There's no technical work pending, only the physical time to manufacture all the systems is long. Fabrication work is going on. These are complex systems and we need to have reliability and quality that is one order better given that there are humans involved," Umamaheshwaran added.

He reiterated that a series of demonstration missions will be carried out beginning early next year. Among them would be the first few abort missions using the special test vehicle Isro has developed, as TOI has reported earlier.

"Overall we have four test vehicles that will demonstrate various abort systems. The complexity is to detect impending disasters. The entire crew module and CES (crew escape system) should act swiftly," said.

Stressing on the importance of the parachute systems, he said, they need to be demonstrated flawlessly before being used. To achieve this Isro is planning 15-16 IAD (integrated air-drop) tests using helicopters.