ISRO is all set to take a significant leap in its ambitious manned mission project to space
Manned space mission gets a boost (Photo: ISRO)
Nellore: Indian Space Research Organisation is all set to take a significant leap in its ambitious manned mission project to space with the launch of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III with a payload consisting of a crew module.
The module would re-enter the earth’s atmosphere and descend into the Bay of Bengal in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, about 600 km away from Sriharikota. Isro has made arrangements to recover the module with the help of the Indian Navy and Coast guard personnel for evaluation purpose.
The scientists at the country’s premier space research agency have been gearing up for the test launch of one of its powerful rockets (GSLV-Mk III), the heaviest among Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle versions.
The experimental flight is being used to test and study the crew module for future human space missions. The test mission is costing about Rs 155 Cr to Isro. According to SHAR Director Dr M.Y.S. Prasad the experimental suborbital flight is meant to test the atmospheric characteristics and stability of the rocket on its way to space. He said that GSLV-Mk111 has been designed to carry four tonne class satellites.
However the GSLV-Mk11I made ready for the test flight will not have critical cryogenic engine except active solid boosters, liquid corestage and passive cryogenic stage. It will take at least two more years for ISRO to come out with cryogenic engine which is under development.
The 630-tonne GSLV-Mk III designated as LVM3-X will carry CARE (Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment) weighing about 3.65 tonnes. The objectives of the mission are flight validation of the complex atmospheric flight regime of LVM3 vehicle, validation of new design features and overall integrity of the mission design besides simulation and software implementation and study the re-entry characteristics of crew module CARE.
The experimental flight of GSLV-Mark III is expected to provide all the inputs required for the first developmental flight of GSLV-Mark III. ISRO intends to send a communication satellite on board the developed version.
Though four tonne is the nominal payload capability of MkIII, the first flight is likely to be a three-and-a- half, and it will be increased gradually in future flights. ISRO aims to study the impact of heat on the crew module when it enters earth atmosphere. Dr Prasad said that CARE is expected to enhance their understanding on re-entry and parachute phase of crew module.
In the care mission, the crew module, which is separated from the launch vehicle at an altitude of 126 km, re-enters Earth's atmospheric at about 80 km and descents in ballistic mode. The control system will be based on already developed propulsion and avionics modules, Dr Prasad added.
Module is size of bedroom:
The crew module of GSLV to be sent as a payload has a base diameter of 3.1m and a height of 2.7m. It is almost the size of a small bedroom and much larger than that of the Russian manned mission’s crew module.
Explaining the intricacies of the project, CARE project director Dr Unnikrishnan said that while the crew module with a lift off mass of 3,735 kg is not a full-fledged module, it will use three sets of parachutes to ensure safe landing on the sea.
The crew module will be separated from the launch vehicle at an altitude of 126 km, re-enter Earth’s atmosphere at about 80 km and descend further in ballistic mode. Beyond 80 km, it will follow uncontrolled re-entry trajectory and impact the sea at about 180 km from Andaman Islands.
( Source : dc )
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