India has undeniably marked its presence on the global stage with commendable achievements in unmanned space missions, exemplified by the successful Chandrayaan and Mars Orbiter Mission. These milestones have not only showcased India’s technological prowess but have also established the nation as a key player in space exploration. However, the absence of manned space missions in India’s repertoire raises critical questions regarding both technological capabilities and logistical preparedness. The decision to focus predominantly on unmanned missions may stem from a strategic approach to prioritize cost-effective ventures and minimize risks associated with human spaceflight. Nonetheless, a critical examination prompts consideration of the long-term benefits of engaging in manned missions, not only in bolstering national prestige but also in advancing scientific research and fostering international collaborations. As India continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, a careful evaluation of the factors influencing the absence of manned missions becomes imperative for charting a comprehensive and ambitious trajectory in space endeavors.
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Decoding the Question:
- In the Intro, try to write about Chandrayaan and MOM’s mission.
- In Body:
- Discuss progress made with manned missions.
- Discuss technology issues, challenges, and logistics issues.
- Try to conclude with recent policy changes to allow private players in the space sector.
Answer:
India has been able to carry out unmanned space missions but lacks full-fledged capabilities in manned space missions. Although some developments have taken place in terms of technology and logistics, India is still facing some hurdles in launching manned space missions.
Chandrayaan-I, which discovered water on the surface of the moon.
MOM (Mars Mission Orbiter), also Mangalyaan, was successfully launched to test key technologies for interplanetary exploration and to study the Martian surface and atmosphere from orbit.
But these two successes were overshadowed by the failure of the landing of Vikram Rover over the moon’s surface which again brought India weakness or inability to land on the moon and the technologies needed for manned space missions.
Though the ISRO has made some progress in this regard there are still many challenges that are creating hurdles on both technological and logistical fronts:
Technology:
- India lacks the technology to carry heavy payloads into space.
- Full capabilities in re-entry technologies are yet to be developed.
- India could not get international cooperation in the field such as cryogenic technology at an early stage.
- ISRO is planning to launch a manned space program by 2021-24. Towards this end, it has unveiled a prototype of its first crew capsule (4-meter-high module) designed to carry two people into low earth orbit.
- India in 2017 launched the GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) Mark 3 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre. It carried a three-ton payload, including “Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE)”. However, the third stage of cryogenic technology in GSLV is still not fully developed. GSLV Mark 3 will also be upgraded and tested to carry payloads up to 8 tonnes.
- India is also working on Space Capsule Recovery Experiment-2 (SRE-2) which will demonstrate critical technologies required for recoverable launch vehicles.
Logistics
- India is dependent mainly on a single type of launch vehicle such as that of PSLV which hampers the capacity expansion of the program.
- India does not have a global navigation system.
- Funding and finance are essential to develop various equipment, technology and new tools required in the coordination of a manned space program. But ISRO is still waiting for government approval and funding for a human space flight program.
Progress made concerning manned mission:
- Technology: ISRO has carried out major technology demonstrations, such as testifying a crew escape system, which is a critical technology relevant to human space flight. ISRO has developed some critical technologies like reentry mission capability. Crew module configuration successfully launched with dummy payloads and brought it back to the Arabian Sea.
- GSLV MK-III: In 2014 ISRO conducted an experimental flight for which GSLV MK-III was successfully tested. It also tested an experimental crew module, demonstrating re-entry capability. The first developmental flight of GSLV MK-III was successfully conducted in 2017. In 2018, the first successful flight of the crew escape system was tested.
- Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (CARE-2014) Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiments (CARE-2014) and Pad Abort Test (2018) are successful in demonstrations. These critical technologies will help ISRO to accomplish GAGANYAAN’s mission objectives in 4 years.
Some scientists hold the view that private players have much more flexibility, freedom, and risk-taking abilities than state-owned agencies. Thus there should be more participation of private players in space programs. Private players can invest money. If India wants to establish a permanent space station research and heavy investment are needed. India must realize that China launched its manned space mission to space in 2016 and will establish its permanent space station by 2022. Therefore India should also increase its footprints in manned space mission capabilities at the earliest.
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