The Indian Air Force (IAF)has
signed an agreement with the Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO) for crew selection and training for
the prestigious Gaganyaan, the country’s maiden
manned mission.
AVM RGK Kapoor, ACAS Ops (Space), IAF handed
over the MoU to Shri R Hutton, Project Director of Gaganyaan Programme.
Agreement:
– Under the programme, a three-member crew will
spend a minimum of seven days in
space.
– A human-rated GSLV Mk-lll will be used
to carry the orbital module, which will have necessary provisions for
sustaining a three-member crew for the duration of the mission.
– The Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) will
lead the selection and training of astronauts on behalf of IAF.
– The necessary infrastructure for crew
training, a realization of flight systems and ground infrastructure will be
established to support the program.
– The ISRO will collaborate extensively with
national agencies, laboratories, academia, and industry to accomplish the
objectives of the prestigious mission.
Gaganyaan Mission:
- Gaganyaan (“Sky Craft”) is an Indian crewed orbital spacecraft intended to be the basis of theIndian Human Spaceflight Programme.
- Gaganyaan was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018.
- The mission worth Rs. 10,000 crore.
- The Programme is aimed to be launched by December 2021.
- It was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2018.
In its maiden crewed mission, ISRO’s largely autonomous 3.7-tonne capsule will orbit the Earth at 400 km (250 mi) altitude for up to seven days with a three-person crew on board.
