New Mars Forums

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

India may soon be ahead of Europe and Japn in manned space flight and have its own independent access to space. I'm going to post a new topic on this because the previous threads on this are out of date or they went off topic on political discussion although politics is sometimes relevant to spaceflight I feel a new topic is more useful here. On social media I have seen unfair comments about the look of the craft, saying India will build some three wheeler rickshaw spacecraft or bangal banger spacecar but test and prototype always look a bit raw. If and when India gets its own people own access to space it will change the space industry and they may be able to refine their own unique designs, maybe do Mars missions or have Space stations.

India plans more unmanned Mars missions and a Manned Space Station, it must first achieve the feat of having a manned rocket and launching its own manned spacecraft into orbit. In recent years Space has become a bigger part of Indian print media and movies and tv culture, Bollywood Telugu, Hindi, Tamil films like 'Mission Mangal' the film 'Cargo' and an armageddon michael bay style movie called 'Tik Tik Tik'. The Coronavirus deaths the past year had recent economic impact on India and India's missions with Covid-19 throwing India’s space ambitions off schedule.
We have also entered a new era of Self-funded travelers and new Space tourism so a lot of new rumors are floating around out there. I'm not sure how much is this 'news' is still real or possibly out of date? Here a news website uses a fake propaganda pic for example from the Bezos Blue Origin Lander which has yet to achieve orbit and calls it Chandrayaan 3 and Gaganyaan?
https://www.infoqwiki.com/chandrayaan-3 … -missions/
The pics on video social media sites of the Soyuz-style India Capsule might be real.
ISRO have tested a Crew module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment or 'CARE' mission.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/india-success … ii-1480025

I do not believe they will send 3 men on their first spaceflight mission.

Most nations typically send animals into space before the final manned mission, Musk's Space-X I believe had a dozen Mice. China I believe put a Rabbit into its Shenzhou with Rats, small aquatic Fish and a Telescope before sending its manned mission to Space. The USA launched a chimpanzee into space during Project Mercury while Russia launched a dog, the French caught an alley cat and launched a wild street cat into space with electrodes on its brain but France never went ahead and developed its own manned space flight. I believe it is very unlikely India will launch a Monkey or some kind of Cat/Tiger a Snake or a little Cow because of the religious animal worship in India, some branches of Hinduism have a sort of pagan animal worship element to them and see certain animals as having some kind of divine spirit nature to them. I believe India will probably try to be careful not to offend the animal of certain religions before their manned mission takes place.

Previous news October, 2019 - The Indian Space Station, which the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to establish between 2024 and 2026, is likely to have space to accommodate three astronauts. The space station programme is an extension of Gaganyaan—ISRO’s human spaceflight mission.
https://weather.com/en-IN/india/science … -gaganyaan
Indian Space Station Likely to Accommodate Three Astronauts
This website gave a date of 2030
https://astrotalk.com/astrology-blog/in … e-station/
India To Launch Its Own Space Station| Gaganyaan 2030

I believe this Gaganaut word is perhaps Sanskrit or Hindi for "Sky Craft Person". We have Astronauts, Cosmonauts, Taikonauts and the French if they ever got their own independent manned program going wanted to call their people 'Spatio-nauts' but it seems India will now get to space independently with their own manned program before Japan or France or Europe have manned rockets or spacecraft in space. This wont be the first person of Indian origin in space, that feat was done a guy Sharma who became the first Indian citizen to enter space when he flew aboard the Soviet Soyuz rocket in the 1980s there was also a feat by Kalpana Chawla first woman of Indian origin to go to space she flew on the STS Shuttle in the 1990s and then died tragically on the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster of 2003. She has places named after her in both the USA and India and she is regarded as a national hero in India. At this time China had access to space and year later Bush Jnr was to announce a massive increase in NASA funding while fighting costly wars, Bush wanted manned US mission to Mars but it became much like the failed public policy initiative of the George H. W. Bush Snr administration, thankfully the USA now has Private access and an option for US Heavy Lift vehicles. The Russians managed to keep US Astronauts flying to the ISS until Musk and the Space-X Private Sector came along and got the USA back into space.  China has since become a Space Power and I believe India will also soon aim to have its own capsules, space planes, space stations and India also launches missions to Mars.

The region of Kashmir the countries of India and Pakistan still fight over it, Aksai Chin is a region administered by China. Politically some things might be relevant to discuss on India, it was once one mix of very old civilizations, peoples, languages and tribes, a long history and maybe one of the oldest civilizations of Earth, they have pride in their old history. Pakistan and India at one time used to be the same people but has a turbulent violent history with islam and the islamic conquest of Indian territory, historically there have been thousands killed, perhaps millions upon million Hindus killed in the total Jihad against India, it still is in dispute over land area. The territory of the Sub continent of  was under attack from Mughal Muslim Empire what today is Uzbekistan, who employed islamist mohammedan aid from the neighboring Iranian Safavid and Ottoman Turk empires, moslem expansion and the islamic occupation of non muslim lands slowed and came to a stop in the 16th and 17th centuries while European influence came to India. The British Raj arrived and Crown rule in India, the British Empires Tea Company and control of The Dutch East India Company trade route to Europe, a lot of old groups and old railway lines are still in play from this Colonial period in India. Modern India is a multi cultural mix of religious beliefs and ethnic groups, it left a post British Empire Colonialism Era a country divided into two independent dominion states, India and Pakistan/EastPakistan with East Pakistan becoming the modern country Bangladesh. During the Coldwar there was something of a US-Pakistan Alliance, India was not always on the side of the USA, it was not always with Russians either, played a Key Role in having its own Independent voice but some might have seen India as too Russia-Leaning during the time of the USSR with its involvement in the Non-Aligned Movement. India is now it is part of BRICS, economic magazines and banker investors claiming Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa would dominate the Neo-world economy? India has typically purchased British Tanks and Weapons, French Aircraft, Russian  Aircraft while the United States and  perhaps Sweden/Italy have sold weapons to Pakistan. Some people still discuss India as a potential 'superpower' India still lacks full representation at the UN it seeks a permanent seat in the council and it has a long history of cultural religious dialogue with many regions, especially within Asia, India has interval issues like Poverty,  Economic obstacles, Social issues but manned space flight might change the world image of India and give it stronger political representation.

No other countries currently can match the human spaceflight feats of Russia or the United States however China plans to catch up in some areas and maybe even soon do better for example China has already operated a lunar rover over half a kilometer on far side of Moon it also landed a small eco-system to check the survival of animals and the growing of crops or seeds on the Moon. When it comes to Spaceflight, Duration and distance milestones some nations have greatly benefited from being part of the ISS. Germany, Canada, Japan, France, Italy, Brazil have all had access to the Space station but India was not one of them, they all had their own astronauts fly to space on Russian rockets or Shuttle or now use the Private Sector and Musk's Space-X to fly to the ISS, they almost have spaceflight feats as good as China's however China did build its own independent craft and can do its own Chinese missions and now set their own Chinese agenda for their own future spaceflight missions. India like China has no access to the ISS, like China once did they are now paying for Russian training, they are doing examination of Russian rockets and developing their own capsule or ship.

India was much hyped int he 1990s and 2000s as a possible Superpower so is India Still a Rising Superpower? A lot of India's progress can be followed on news websites and social media but it can be sometimes difficult to tell what is real online and what is just media hype. This Twitter account has posted
https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/ … 7041257472
'Four Indian astronauts continue their training at Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. They have successfully passed the exams on the knowledge of onboard systems of Soyuz spacecraft and are now preparing for the exam on the theory of manual flight control'
Another online media account writes 'This photo from roscosmos
is a precursor to what is in store for us as India takes baby steps to manned space mission, Gaganyaan.'
https://twitter.com/writetake/status/12 … 76705?s=20

I believe they already have paid the Russian Federation a lot of money for spaceflight training, they plan on using the GSLV Mark III Indian rocket or GSLV Mk3 S200 booster, it can launch 3,423 kg (7,546 lb)  GTO but I'm not sure if the rocket has been man rated yet.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne … 621463.cms

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2021-05-30 07:31:46)

SpaceNut

Administrator

From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 29,433

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

India has had quite a successful unmanned launch system for some time now. Its time to graduate to being able to send men next....

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

Delays expected?

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-ne … 04769.html

India talked with Australia to have a ground station at the Coco Islands for the Gaganyaan mission.

'India's space ambition is temporarily thrown off schedule by Covid-19'
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south … y-covid-19

Australian Space Agency signs with Indian Space Research Organisation
https://www.industry.gov.au/news/austra … ganisation

The Gaganyaan manned mission, hit by the pandemic-triggered restrictions, has been further delayed and India’s maiden human spaceflight launch is not likely before 2023.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ind … 013233.cms

More Politics? 
https://hooktube.com/watch?v=R6fMM_jbl00
https://ytprivate.com/watch?v=R6fMM_jbl00
Possible cutbacks, due to the current pandemic-driven slowdown. Jairam Ramesh an opposition MP, chair of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology

ISRO Chairman Dr Sivan said they'll wait until lockdown over before revising or confirming timelines for Gaganyaan and other major projects:

https://www.theweek.in/news/sci-tech/20 … yaan3.html

ISRO plans for nuclear energy use in space
https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/ … -in-space/

Covid-19 throws India’s space ambitions off schedule
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/internati … s-schedule

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2021-05-30 14:28:44)

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

Money for militarism and weaponization? ...but manned flights ??

India ramps up military satellite plans
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defe … ite-plans/

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2021-05-31 04:12:35)

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

Should India join China and Russia’s Lunar Research Station? https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4185/1

tahanson43206

Moderator

Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 19,422

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

For Mars_B4_Moon re topic

Thanks for adding so many links to this topic ... I thought the most recent post #5 (and it's link to a Space Review article by a resident of India) was particularly interesting.

(th)

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

Indian private players can now build and operate their own rocket launch sites
https://www.timesnownews.com/business-e … tes/776396

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

Indian news media admits the Corona virus slowed down t he space program, the Covid pandemic cast a shadow over Isro’s mission launches for over a year,

Rockets, Landers and Spacesuit models?
https://twitter.com/Ajmeunier/status/14 … 6289567748

Eyeing space station by 2030, crewed Gaganyaan mission in 2023, Space minister tells Indian Parliament
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ind … 195891.cms
The Hindu Sikhism Jainism religion cultures and Hindi, Malayalam, Marathi languages and cultures one day arriving on Mars?
http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=6125

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2021-12-11 09:10:42)

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

Starlink’s head of India resigns as SpaceX refunds preorders

https://spacenews.com/starlinks-head-of … preorders/

“I have stepped down as Country Director and Chairman of the Board of Starlink India for personal reasons,” Sanjay Bhargava said in a Jan. 4 LinkedIn post.

“My last working day was December 31, 2021. I will have no comments for individuals and media so please respect my privacy.”

Space timetable of Space Station in 2030s
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ind … 231964.cms

L1 Aditya and Chandrayaan-3 2022-2023 and Space Station in 2030s
Venus mission 2023

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

Russia removes flags of US, UK and Japan from its space rocket; leaves India's flag untouched
https://www.firstpost.com/world/russia- … 28461.html

Ukraine crisis: Distance yourself from Russia, US tells India after abstentions
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/wor … 978935.cms

ISRO launch
https://twitter.com/ISROSpaceflight/sta … 3686301696

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2022-03-04 09:38:35)

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

The politics is changing?

India will see itself back in the non-USA non-Western Soviet sphere or as a nonaligned diplomat nation

Biden says India 'shaky' on Russia
https://nz.news.yahoo.com/biden-says-in … 52410.html

The countries maintaining research ties with Russia despite Ukraine
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00945-3

ISRO likely to launch seven satellites during current year: Govt
https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/ISRO … t_999.html

"The first PSLV-XL rocket is expected to be realised in 24 months from the date of award of the contract. Subsequently one rocket every six months has to be delivered to NSIL," the official added
The first rocket is expected to be realised sometime during the second half of 2024 and the balance four rockets will be delivered during 2025 and 2026 at two rockets per year.
https://www.business-standard.com/artic … 618_1.html

India has called for an end to violence in Ukraine but refrained from outright condemnation of Russia, with which it has long-standing political and security ties. Russia's exported $6.9 billion worth of goods to India in 2021, mainly mineral oils, fertilisers and rough diamonds, while India's exports totaled $3.33 billion, mainly pharmaceutical products, tea and coffee.

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2022-04-10 03:27:27)

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

India, France agree to cooperate on secure access to outer space, space-based challenges

https://spacenews.com/india-france-agre … hallenges/

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

'Requesting the entire Amateur Radio Community in tracking our baby...'

https://twitter.com/rifath_shaarook/sta … 2657092608

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

Space tourism is possible! ISRO testing human flight capacity to low earth orbit
https://www.financialexpress.com/lifest … t/2605088/

it looks like there was a failure in the three-stage vehicle launch of the 135-kilogram Earth observation satellite EOS-02, news shared on twitter says  both satellites onboard were destroyed during reentry
https://twitter.com/ISROSpaceflight/sta … 2186027008

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2022-08-07 11:43:26)

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

The Yuanwang 5 space tracking ship is at the centre of a spat between China and India over a planned docking at the Chinese-run port of Hambantota in Sri Lanka.

https://twitter.com/AJ_FI/status/1556565836919455744

(1/2) SSLV-D1/EOS-02 Mission update: SSLV-D1 placed the satellites into 356 km x 76 km elliptical orbit instead of 356 km circular orbit. Satellites are no longer usable. Issue is reasonably identified. Failure of a logic to identify a sensor failure and go for a salvage action

https://twitter.com/isro/status/1556208112138215424

Will India be a fence sitter in the race to conquer space?

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opi … quer-space

ISRO developing indigenous space tourism capabilities, says Indian minister; how credible is it

https://www.wionews.com/india-news/isro … -it-499798

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2022-08-08 04:37:47)

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

India or Japan or Space-X in French Guiana, Kourou, South America?

"I would say there are two and a half options that we're discussing. One is SpaceX, that is clear. Another one is possibly Japan. It is waiting for the inaugural flight of its next-generation rocket. Another option could be India," ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher told Reuters.

https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story … 2022-08-12

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

India and China to Take Part in Joint Military Drills with Russia
https://www.voanews.com/a/india-and-chi … 23800.html

Anxtrix – the commercial arm of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation)

What is Antrix-Devas case? All you need to know about decade-long legal tussle between India and a startup
The controversial deal between Department of Space’s commercial entity Antrix and Bengaluru-based startup Devas Multimedia has been under the scanner for more than a decade now.
https://www.financialexpress.com/indust … p/2409744/

'Big Win For Centre In Antrix-Devas Case'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OyavBojG30

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

Ukraine how is India affected?

They are not part of the Western sanctions on Russia, they trade but I have a feeling they will be buying up Russian science from MIR or ISS at discount prices?

For India, the buzzword now is ‘all-alignment’
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/f … 887072.ece

India's Gaganyaan mission likely to be launched in 2024, first test-flight this year: Union Minister Jitendra Singh

They blame a delay on hit by disruptions due to the coronavirus pandemic

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne … 176509.cms

Synopsis
"The COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on the training of astronauts in Russia as well as India," PTI quoted Singh as saying, adding the first test-flight of the Gaganyaan mission is scheduled to take place later this year. The first test-flight will be followed by sending a female-looking spacefaring humanoid robot -- Vyom Mitra -- in outer space likely next year, Singh said

ISRO and Hughes launch India's first commercial satellite broadband service
https://www.wionews.com/india-news/isro … ice-515633

'Historic! India's 1st Human Space-flight Mission Gaganyaan Likely To Be Launched In 2024'
https://www.republicworld.com/science/s … eshow.html

Gaganyaan Sanskrit "Sky Craft"
https://web.archive.org/web/20161228004 … craft.html

As of 2015 the design utilized a Soyuz-shaped reentry capsule with a mass of 3735 kg, a diameter of 3.100 m and height of 2.678 m. The ablative reentry shield consisted of carbon phenolic tiles, with tan medium density ablative tiles covering the rest of the outer surface. After re-entry, at a velocity of 233 m/s, a pair of 2.3 meter diameter pilot parachutes stabilized the capsule. This was followed by a pair of 6.2 m diameter drogue parachutes, which reduced the velocity to 50 m/s. At 5 km altitude three 31-m diameter main parachutes deployed. The capsule was designed to splash down in the ocean followed by recovery by Indian naval vessels. The reaction control system consisted of six 100-N thrusters burning MMH / MON3 storable propellants. The capsule was designed to initially accommodate two astronauts on long-duration solo missions. The design allowed later modification to carry three on short-duration shuttle missions to an orbiting space station.

NASA-ISRO SAR Mission due to launch in 2024.
https://twitter.com/SSA_Mark/status/1553197003076579328

Earth observation satellite will be the first radar imaging satellite to use dual frequencies will be used for remote sensing, to observe and understand natural processes on Earth

French commercial launch service provider?
https://www.arianespace.com/press-relea … -launches/
Arianespace is supporting OneWeb on its upcoming launches; including the performance of Dispenser Supply Services for two launches to be performed by NewSpace India Limited, part of Indian national space agency ISRO.

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2022-09-14 07:26:47)

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

Designed to last six months, India's Mars Orbiter bids adieu
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ind … 599977.cms

4 IAF pilots selected for India’s manned space mission
https://theshillongtimes.com/2020/01/01 … e-mission/

kbd512

Administrator

Registered: 2015-01-02

Posts: 7,857

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

I have it on good authority that Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta has volunteered to become the first Lady Gaganaut.  India says they've no idea if she's any good at piloting a space capsule, but she's certainly entertaining.  When phoned for comment on her potential selection, she said that "Her momma told her when she was young, that we were all born superstars."

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

GSLV MkIII to make commercial foray by launching 36 OneWeb satellites on Oct 23
https://indianexpress.com/article/techn … 3-8209283/

OneWeb a communications company that aims to build broadband satellite Internet services. The company is headquartered in London, and has offices in Virginia, US and a satellite manufacturing facility in Florida – OneWeb Satellites – that is a joint venture with Airbus Defence and Space. In 2022 multiple mainstream media sources reported that OneWeb was scheduled to launch satellites from Russia despite the UK's sanctions against Russia due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. There were calls for the UK side to cancel the launch. Russia said the launch had already been paid for and would not be refunded, and would be cancelled from the Russian side unless OneWeb can provide additional assurance that the satellites will never be used for military purposes. In March 2022, OneWeb announced an agreement with SpaceX leading to resumption of OneWeb satellite launches.
New launch vehicle and new customers, sanction on Russia after an invasion on Ukraine.

https://www.msn.com/

Headline reads

'Gaganyaan: First abort test likely only in early 2023'

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2022-10-18 07:03:53)

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

ISRO completes investigation into SSLV launch failure

https://spacenews.com/isro-completes-in … h-failure/

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

India’s Moon Shot Adds to Country’s Growing Space Endeavors
https://spaceref.com/science-and-explor … endeavors/

ISRO chairman S. Somanath announced that the first crewed mission will not take place until 2024 at the earliest because of safety concerns.
https://web.archive.org/web/20220630172 … TOIDesktop
However, a source in April 2023 suggested that ISRO was aiming for a 2025 launch
https://indianexpress.com/article/india … n-8546259/

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

Service Module Propulsion System
System Demonstration Module
Hot Test - Phase 2.
Another hot test was conducted today, for 700 s.  LAM engines and  RCS Thrusters were fired in continuous mode and pulse mode.  The performance was normal.
https://twitter.com/isro/status/1684590800653393922
Today's test followed a nominal de-boost profile.

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: India's Manned Spaceflight 'Gaganauts'

ISRO Space Station a planned space station to be constructed by India and operated by Indian Space Research Organisation where astronauts could stay for 15–20 days, it has faced delays and further postponed to 2035 due to delays led by technical issues related with the Gaganyaan crewed spaceflight mission and the COVID-19 pandemic.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/science/ … 87541.html

The Moon mission

Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft Lunar orbit insertion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeBkL39SjHo

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2023-08-08 11:53:11)