Sriharikota: India’s ambitious space programme yet, the Gaganyaan, manned mission to space is likely to take off from Sriharikota by 2021 and Indian Space Research Organisation is simultaneously working on various fronts including finalizing the procedures to select crew members for the mission.
“Isro will launch two unmanned flights using human rated vehicle before Gaganyaan to assess various parameters. The first unmanned flight will take-off before December 2020,” K.Sivan, chairman, Isro, told reporters after the successful launch of GSLV-Mk III rocket.
The space research organisation will also carry out modifications at the GSLV-Mk III rocket which will be used for the mission and one of the launch pads in Sriharikota.
The space organisation is also in consultations with other space agencies for finalizing the selection process for crew members.
“Isro will send a three-person crew to space for a period of five to seven days to carry some of the scientific tests like micro gravity experiments. After that they will be brought back to earth,” Sivan said.
The spacecraft will be placed in a low earth orbit of 300-400 km. The crew module along with the service module together called the orbital module weighing around seven tonnes will be mounted atop the GSLV MkIII launch vehicle. They will have a controlled descent towards earth.
The crew module will be separated from the service module at 120 km above earth.
Based on the experience gained from the mission, Isro will formulate future plans including sending astronauts to International Space Station.
