India's manned space mission Gaganyaan could carry only one astronaut to space

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It is learnt that India’s first indigenous manned space mission Gaganyaan is likely to carry only one astronaut. There were reports about three astronauts being part of the mission. Security concerns have made the organization take this decision. The mission would most definitely be carried out by a man, instead of a woman and two men decided earlier. On January 1, ISRO chairman Dr K Sivan had, during a press conference, said that the space research organization has made “good progress” in Gaganyaan and four astronauts, all pilots of the Indian Air Force, have been selected to be sent to space and they will now undergo an 11-month training in Russia.

Citing the examples of other countries, Sivan said that the first flights are crucial and the US, China and Russia also sent only one person to space. He also said that the duration of these countries’ manned space missions was also very brief, lasting for one day or one orbit, or even a part of the orbit like the US did.

He was also quoted as saying that the design of the crew and service module, together forming the spacecraft, is ready and now, the realisation of the design has to be commenced. When the organisation gets the first model of the Gaganyaan, it would go for qualification. After that, the flight model is likely to be ready by December.

The prestigious mission has a budget of Rs 10,000 crores.

In the two test flights, a humanoid robot will be sent to measure parameters like blood pressure, heart rate, etc, and based on that data, corrections would be made to ensure the suitability of the mission for astronauts.

As per the ISRO schedule, the mission is scheduled to be executed in December 2021.