Indian Human Spaceflight Program (HSP)

[Chinmoy]

IE says Indian astronauts might not be onboard.

In a related development, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will partner the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the US in sending a joint mission to the International Space Station, a permanent laboratory in space, next year. It was not immediately clear whether the joint mission would include an Indian astronaut to the space station.

https://indianexpress.com/article/world/coming-artemis-accords-isro-nasa-mission-8680033/

May be just ISRO equipment will be utilized in cooperation.

Typical India media outlet. Write up things without understanding what to write.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

NASA-ISRO to send Indian astronauts to International Space Station

IE says Indian astronauts might not be onboard.

In a related development, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will partner the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the US in sending a joint mission to the International Space Station, a permanent laboratory in space, next year. It was not immediately clear whether the joint mission would include an Indian astronaut to the space station.

https://indianexpress.com/article/world/coming-artemis-accords-isro-nasa-mission-8680033/

May be just ISRO equipment will be utilized in cooperation.

Typical India media outlet. Write up things without understanding what to write.

Here is another article, says crew being trained for Gaganyaan may not involve ISS mission or Gaganyaan manned spaceflight will happen before sending an Indian to ISS. Translates into both projects running parallel. Might have joined ISS only for gaining docking and space station operating experience, delivering cargo once or twice will be a great experience for connecting spacecraft in orbit.
No decision yet on sending Gaganyaan astronauts to International Space Station
Astronauts are under training for an Indian orbital mission; a decision on sending one of these to the International Space Station is awaited

The International Space Station. Photo: NASA/Roscosmos via Reuters

While Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and U.S. President Joe Biden signed an agreement on June 22 to conceive a joint mission sending an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) by 2024, it is unclear if this will involve astronauts currently being trained for the indigenous Gaganyaan mission.

“The details of this mission… on whether someone being trained for Gaganyaan will be part of the ISS trip is still to be decided,” Minister of State (Space), Jitendra Singh, told reporters on June 23. He also said that it was yet uncertain if an Indian astronaut will be in space before the proposed Gaganyaan mission. The agreement mentions providing “advanced training” to Indian astronauts at the Johnson Space Centre, Houston, Texas.

Also Read | Study reveals how immune system of astronauts breaks down

The Gaganyaan mission, led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), proposes to launch a crew of three into an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission and bring them back safely to earth. There are multiple tests underway to test each aspect of this mission and, Mr Singh has told Parliament that the final launch is scheduled for the “fourth quarter of 2024.” India is currently collaborating with Russia in training the future Gaganyaan astronauts.

ISRO’s reservations

S Somnath, Chairman, ISRO, told The Hindu that the proposed participants in the ISS was “yet to be decided.” The decision to have an Indian astronaut on the ISS marks a significant change to Isro’s policy that has historically seen little value to having an Indian astronaut aboard the ISS. Mr Somnath in an April 2022 interview to the publication Geospatial World said, “We did not join ISS because in our assessment, we didn’t find merit in joining it.” His predecessor, S Sivan, in June 2019 had stated that India would not join the ISS and would work on developing its own space station. Mr Somnath did not respond to a query from The Hindu on the reasons for this policy shift.

“For a long time there has been a question on whether we should be part of the (ISS). Ultimately this has happened. Certain quarters had some reservations at the diplomatic level but now there is unanimity,” said Singh.

ISS manned since 1998

Since its launch in 1998, the ISS has continuously been inhabited since November 2000 under a U.S.-Russian-led partnership that also includes Canada, Japan and 11 European countries. Russia last year, following the outbreak of the Ukraine war, has said it will withdraw from the ISS after 2024 though the US has said that it was committed to continue supporting the project until 2030 and that it was discussing this with its “partners.”

Artemis Accords

Along with the ISS agreement, India also signed the Artemis Accords, a compact of 27 countries, promoted by the United States that envisages a manned mission to the moon by 2025 along with several other space-exploration initiatives.

“(The Americans) have planned an ambitious programme to return to the moon by 2025 and they say that the next mission will have a non-White, maybe a woman, (on board)…They wish India to be equal partners on this. We are offering them (the Americans) as much as they have to offer. This is a celebration of Indo-US friendship in space and as PM Modi said, the sky is no longer the limit,” Mr Singh added, “The Artemis agreement is non-binding and is unlikely to involve a major financial commitment now.”

The Artemis Accords, a document that India has been weighing for a few years since the Trump administration, envisages peaceful exploration of space and equitably sharing resources on the moon, be they private or public companies. China and Russia – two major space faring nations – have objected to provisions of the Accords on the grounds that it constituted a “power grab” of moon territory by the United States.

 

[Chinmoy]

Here is another article, says crew being trained for Gaganyaan may not involve ISS mission or Gaganyaan manned spaceflight will happen before sending an Indian to ISS. Translates into both projects running parallel. Might have joined ISS only for gaining docking and space station operating experience, delivering cargo once or twice will be a great experience for connecting spacecraft in orbit.
No decision yet on sending Gaganyaan astronauts to International Space Station
Astronauts are under training for an Indian orbital mission; a decision on sending one of these to the International Space Station is awaited
View attachment 211985
The International Space Station. Photo: NASA/Roscosmos via Reuters

Also Read | Study reveals how immune system of astronauts breaks down


ISRO’s reservations


ISS manned since 1998


Artemis Accords

That's what I am saying. They are talking of developing a strategic framework for human spaceflight. But our media has already sent human on space flight under that.

 

[Vamsi]

That's what I am saying. They are talking of developing a strategic framework for human spaceflight. But our media has already sent human on space flight under that.

Biden actually said that an Indian astronaut would be in ISS in 2024

 

[TopWatcher]

Bekar main sab tension main aa gaye. As i said earlier its like protocol development for using resources.

 

[Chinmoy]

Biden actually said that an Indian astronaut would be in ISS in 2024

That could be the Rakesh Sharma way. Indian astronaut flying onboard a NASA spaceship. I am talking about the NASA-ISRO collaboration on ISS.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

That could be the Rakesh Sharma way. Indian astronaut flying onboard a NASA spaceship. I am talking about the NASA-ISRO collaboration on ISS.

Training of Indian astronauts will be vain if Gaganyaan doesn't fly in 2024 which it likely won't. So, space hours experience would be gained ISS for idle periods between India's different human spaceflights. That's what I synthesize out of it.

 

[Blademaster]

Training of Indian astronauts will be vain if Gaganyaan doesn't fly in 2024 which it likely won't. So, space hours experience would be gained ISS for idle periods between India's different human spaceflights. That's what I synthesize out of it.

Makes sense. ISRO should go for a Falcon 9 type reusable rocket in order to capitalize on the gains of achieving human spaceflight and sustaining it. Hitching rides on SpaceX's flights is not a long term solution but it can be an interim solution as ISRO build up its reusable launch platforms.

 

[spacemarine2023]

Training of Indian astronauts will be vain if Gaganyaan doesn't fly in 2024 which it likely won't. So, space hours experience would be gained ISS for idle periods between India's different human spaceflights. That's what I synthesize out of it.

ISRO should go into strategic partnerships with Arab, Korea?, South American nations the more the merrier, I believe this way the money will not be an issue.

India should start a space collaboration group for Global South and if countries like Korea and Taiwan joins that will be great..

otherwise the delays basically means the resources are always stretched thin.

 

[Vamsi]

Training of Indian astronauts will be vain if Gaganyaan doesn't fly in 2024 which it likely won't. So, space hours experience would be gained ISS for idle periods between India's different human spaceflights. That's what I synthesize out of it.

Why would it be in vain if astronauts doesn't fly in 2024?? One of the chinese astronauts was supposed to fly in 2005, but flew only last year,17 years after the original date, does this mean his training was in vain all these years??

 

[SKC]

Why would it be in vain if astronauts doesn't fly in 2024?? One of the chinese astronauts was supposed to fly in 2005, but flew only last year,17 years after the original date, does this mean his training was in vain all these years??

That Chinese astronaut did not simply wear the spacesuit and went into space.

He had to go through the complete space flight training again.

We will have to invest in the training regularly the more delay we have in our first Gaganyaan launch.

 

[Vamsi]

That Chinese astronaut did not simply wear the spacesuit and went into space.

He had to go through the complete space flight training again.

We will have to invest in the training regularly the more delay we have in our first Gaganyaan launch.

Yes, he was trained regularly, but that doesn't mean he started from zero again, if there was a gap in training, then it must be started from beginning,else no need, our astronauts aren't sitting idle, they are getting trained regularly, hence there is no need to start it from zero

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Makes sense. ISRO should go for a Falcon 9 type reusable rocket in order to capitalize on the gains of achieving human spaceflight and sustaining it. Hitching rides on SpaceX's flights is not a long term solution but it can be an interim solution as ISRO build up its reusable launch platforms.

NGLV is same thing but a long term program. It will actually take a while. And ISRO's problem here isn't rocket but making a space station versus other priorities.

ISRO should go into strategic partnerships with Arab, Korea?, South American nations the more the merrier, I believe this way the money will not be an issue.

India should start a space collaboration group for Global South and if countries like Korea and Taiwan joins that will be great..

India does have civilain collaboration with all these countries. As for strategic partnership, ISRO neither shares know-how of space technology (which South Korea, Brazil and Arabs will likely demand) nor has collaboration with any other military except India's. That's all taken care of armed forces themselves.

otherwise the delays basically means the resources are always stretched thin.

These countries will actually take more from India than giving benefits.

Why would it be in vain if astronauts doesn't fly in 2024?? One of the chinese astronauts was supposed to fly in 2005, but flew only last year,17 years after the original date, does this mean his training was in vain all these years??

He was re-trained. Criteria says you need certain simulated space training hours continuously before spaceflight and certain space hours for longer stays and different missions.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

dual use technology can be circumvented by providing some assembly to other nations,

Which still can be utilized and studied. Technologies aren't exported steel sealings enclosed and its easier to create a primitive orbital launcher out of them.

India makes fraction but that is due to our resources stretched thin … ideally to maintain commercial and military capability in space a 5 trillion economy should send 50 odd sats in space every year this is bound to increase..

no, that's too much for a 5 trillion dollars economy.

also technology can only be absorbed by countries who are already working on same so I dont think many countries will want to get cryogenic engines or thirst vectoring tech. Solid motors are pretty common tech ..

All countries in world have access to basic functioning of nuclear weapons and satellite launch vehicles/ballistic missiles.
Most of them are nuclear threshold states or operating sounding rockets who are waiting for technological details and metallurgical know-how to produce such systems.

These techs better stay with responsible countries who are economically and militarily powerful enough & politically stable enough to hold, sustain and improvise them through research. Handing it over to random countries like Nigeria will only ensure more craters on Earth.

Its about bring Global South under single umbrella..

No, but it will bring great weapons to terrorists. Most countries in world aren't interested in exploring space and didn't opt for space programs for reason. They are looking for weapons though.

It also ensures that Indian space industry never becomes another money earning wing of India like IT industry.

As for global South, India with all it's national policies and achievements is a second world country and not a third one. Even if it is independent of all blocs.

Its like setting up metro system, metro will never provide you direct benefits but the indirect footprint is multiple times of investments.

No, it is nowhere like setting up a metro station. Nor it will provide any kind of direct or indirect benefits to India or world.
It is a highly strategic tech. India and all other industrialised countries export metros. But they don't sell space rockets.

again economy of scale comes from generating demand which will ultimately come from when India needs to set up sat networks for say Nigeria, Egypt etc.

Demand is not generated by increasing supply, demand pulls supply up.

Nigeria barely has demand and is backward as Niger or Burundi with pathetic consumption and lifestyle even if it's per capita income is boosted by oil. All other countries outside Africa are too small to bear any demand while African countries are too poor to lift it up.

Asian renaissance and Rise of China & India won't be followed by any rise of Africa since GDP growth in Africa is lagging behind population, development indiactors are slipping and no large scale industrialisation is being undertook unlike China and India.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

On astronauts training for Gaganyaan flying on a joint Isro-NASA mission, he said: “Possibility of them flying in a joint Isro-NASA mission cannot be ruled out at this moment. However, we will have to see if they are the right candidate for an US mission, or if we’ll need a different set of people who’ve not been experienced with the Russians…the pros and cons will need to be discussed. But I believe that it should be possible to consider them for the US mission at this moment. They are anyway experienced and they are destined to fly. It is possible.”

At present, the four astronaut-elects are going through various phases of training and as reported earlier by TOI, they have completed the first semester of the Indian module after arriving from initial training in Russia.

“The second semester which involves engagement with other academic institutions is progressing while we’ve started the simulator experience at some level but more simulators are being made now. This year, the plan is to complete the second semester training and begin the full-fledged simulator training at some level. Astronauts are giving some feedback on simulators as their experience in Russia is so enormous. We are designing and building simulators and astronauts become the design feedback community and they are participating with us on this,” Somanath said.

Pointing out that India has so far not developed the training environment in the country, he said, the same has to be done using the experience of these astronauts. “Currently, we are manufacturing and installing the simulators. Software and other front-end simulators are already made but we have to make a big capsule simulator,” he added.

Blue Origin keen on using LVM3 for commercial space activities | India News - Times of India

India News: BENGLAURU: Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin is keen on using India’s GSLV-Mk3 or LVM-3 as a crew capsule to service its Orbital Reef, a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) s.

m.timesofindia.com

 

[Vamsi]

Govt has approved sustained human spaceflight programme....there will be more follow on missions after the 1st crewed mission..

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Gaganyaan first abort test to be in near-supersonic condition

Bengaluru: The first abort test using the special test vehicle (TV) will see Isro take the vehicle to a near-supersonic condition before the abort command is executed, putting the crew module (CM) and the crew escape system (CES) in test conditions that may arise during the Gaganyaan mission.

The mission — TV technology demonstrator-1 (TV-TD1) — will be the first of several such tests Isro plans to conduct before the first uncrewed mission under Gaganyaan. Planned for early August, the mission is expected to see the simulated crew module separate from the vehicle at a height of around 11km (from sea level), attain an altitude of around 15km before falling back to the Bay of Bengal. “This particular test takes the vehicle to a near-supersonic condition, that is past Mach-1 (speed of sound) condition. We will abort the mission, ask the CES to trigger the escape process and then the entire chain of events will happen on a short distance,” Isro chairman S Somanath told TOI.

Following this, crew module separation from the ‘damaged vehicle’ will be simulated and Isro will take the module to a sufficiently far distance away from the possible catastrophe. “Then we’ll recover the CM using our recovery system. This is the mission plan. This will, first and foremost, prove the overall algorithm of different processes involved in an abort scenario — the software, hardwares like the CES elements, structures, mechanisms, separation systems, propulsion systems that have been newly added,” Somanath added. The crew module to be used in the first abort mission, as reported by TOI earlier, will be an unpressurised module designed for the test. “...The CM is an open structure that will be unpressurised. Electronics will also be different too because it is just for the purpose of the abort. This will be repeated again,” Somanath said.

He further said that as part of the preparations for Gaganyaan, the space agency will have to redo the crucial pad abort test (PAT), which will simulate an abort condition on the launch pad. “...We had conducted PAT a few years ago, but beyond that the design has changed substantially, so the PAT is no longer valid. The complete system of the Gaganyaan crew module and CES has seen major changes, which means we have to repeat PAT,” Somanath said. Isro had conducted PAT in July 2018. The test that lasted 4.31 minutes, involved aborting the space capsule at launch.

 

[Vamsi]

As I have said earlier, development of ECLSS is the main reason for Gaganyaan's delay, initially they wanted to use imported ECLSS, hence they thought it can be completed by 2022, now they are developing it Indigenously, hence the delay

 

[spacemarine2023]

As I have said earlier, development of ECLSS is the main reason for Gaganyaan's delay, initially they wanted to use imported ECLSS, hence they thought it can be completed by 2022, now they are developing it Indigenously, hence the delay

then 2025 looks unlikely also, testing fixing regression will take more than couple of years easily…

 

[angryIndian]

As I have said earlier, development of ECLSS is the main reason for Gaganyaan's delay, initially they wanted to use imported ECLSS, hence they thought it can be completed by 2022, now they are developing it Indigenously, hence the delay

I have hard time believing this, how come Russia and the US are more than willing to give every top-notch tech but not ECLSS?