PARLIAMENT QUESTION: HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT AND INDIGENOUS SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Why in news

The article is a response to a Parliament Question detailing the progress on India's human spaceflight initiatives, including the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) and the Gaganyaan Programme, highlighting indigenous technology development.

Exam relevance

GS3 · Science & Technology · Prelims · Mains

Key facts

1. The Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) is planned as India's first indigenous space station.
2. BAS is targeted to be established by 2035 and will comprise five modules.
3. The Union Cabinet approved the development and launch of the 1st module of BAS (BAS-01) by 2028.
4. The development of BAS-01 is part of the revision in scope of the Gaganyaan Programme.
5. Baseline Design Review and System Engineering of BAS-01 have been completed, and 31 baseline design documents released.
6. Design of subsystems for BAS-01 has commenced after expert committee review.
7. New developments under the Gaganyaan programme include Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3), Orbital Module, Crew Escape System, ground infrastructure, flight operations, communication network, and Crew recovery operations.
8. Pre-cursor missions TV-D1, IADT-01, and IADT-02 have been accomplished.
9. Activities for the 1st Uncrewed mission, G1, are in advanced stages.
10. Docking systems, including electrical and mechanical interfaces, have been worked out.
11. The concept demo model of the Refuelling mechanism has been successfully demonstrated.
12. Critical technologies for human spaceflight, such as flight suit, view port, and crew seat, are currently sourced from external parties for Gaganyaan missions.

Prelims pointers

• Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) is India's first indigenous space station.
• BAS is planned to be established by 2035.
• BAS will comprise five modules.
• The first module of BAS (BAS-01) is targeted for launch by 2028.
• BAS-01 development is integrated with the Gaganyaan Programme.
• HLVM3 is the Human Rated Launch Vehicle for Gaganyaan.
• Pre-cursor missions TV-D1, IADT-01, and IADT-02 have been completed.
• G1 is the 1st Uncrewed mission under the Gaganyaan programme.
• A concept demo model of the Refuelling mechanism has been successfully demonstrated.
• Flight suit, view port, and crew seat for Gaganyaan are currently externally sourced.

Mains practice question

Discuss the significance of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) and the Gaganyaan Programme in advancing India's human spaceflight capabilities and fostering indigenous space technology. What are the key technological challenges that India needs to address for these ambitious projects?

Static linkage

This news is linked to India's ambitious space program, spearheaded by ISRO, focusing on achieving self-reliance in advanced space technologies and expanding its capabilities in human spaceflight and space station development. It builds upon decades of progress in satellite technology and launch vehicle development.

Significance

The development of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station and the progress of the Gaganyaan Programme signify India's growing prowess in advanced space technology and its commitment to becoming a major player in human space exploration. These initiatives will foster indigenous technological development, create opportunities for scientific research in microgravity, and inspire future generations in STEM fields. Successfully establishing a space station will position India among an elite group of nations with independent human spaceflight capabilities, enhancing its strategic autonomy and global standing in space.