Gaganyaan-1

Gaganyaan-1

Names	G1
Mission type	Indian Human Spaceflight Programme technology demonstration
Operator	ISRO
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	Gaganyaan
Manufacturer	Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Start of mission
Launch date	July 2024
Rocket	HLVM3
Launch site	Satish Dhawan Space Centre
Contractor	ISRO
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Low Earth orbit
IHSP

Gaganyaan-1 (from Sanskrit: gagana, "celestial" and yāna, "craft, vehicle") will be the first uncrewed test flight of the Gaganyaan programme, with launch planned for July 2024.^[1]

Background

The launch was originally scheduled for December 2020,^[2] then in December 2021,^[3] but it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[2] The flight plan was finally ready by April 2022^[4] and the launch is expected to take place in July 2024,^[1] after the TV-D1, TV-D2, TV-D3 and TV-D4.^[5] It was proposed in April 2022 that the crew module should be depressurized,^[6] something kept in the final planning.^[7]

The first orbiter module adaptor assembly (OMA) was supplied by Kineco Kaman Composites on 23 December 2023. The OMA is a conical structure with a diameter of 4 meters, composed of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers. It is combined with the equipment bay shroud and crew escape module.^[8] With the successful qualification of the rocket's engines in February 2024,^[9] the mission was scheduled to July 2024.^[1]

Mission objectives

The Gaganyaan spacecraft will be launched by a Human-rated LVM 3 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre and inserted into a 170 x 408 km orbit.^[10] The circularisation maneuver will be performed at the third orbit. The landing should follow the same pattern as the TV-D1.^[4][11]

After this mission, ISRO will perform four more abort tests before launching Gaganyaan 2,^[5] carrying the humanoid robot Vyommitra,^[12] which was later decided that it will also fly on G-1.^[13]

References

1. Desk, Janam Web (2024-02-28). "Why were the names of Gaganyaan passengers revealed a year before its launch?". janamtv.com. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
2. Jones, Andrew (2021-02-23). "India revises Gaganyaan human spaceflight plan, delays Chandrayaan-3". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
3. "First uncrewed mission of Gaganyaan in December: It's race against time for ISRO now". The Hindu. 2021-06-28. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
4. Kumar, Chethan (2022-04-28). "First Gaganyaan uncrewed module to be injected in 170x408km orbit; indicates human spaceflight profile". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
5. "Chennai: Indian Space Research Organisation to carry out series of tests before launch of Gaganyaan". The Times of India. 2022-07-01. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
6. Kumar, Chethan (2022-04-29). "Gaganyaan: First uncrewed mission to have unpressurised crew module". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
7. Marar, Anjali; Dutt, Anonna (2024-02-27). "PM Modi announces 4 astronauts for Gaganyaan: Current status of the mission". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
8. "Pilerne-based Kineco Kaman delivers key component for Isro's human space mission". The Times of India. 2023-12-23. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
9. Kumar, Chetan (2024-02-21). "Gaganyaan: Cryo engine qualification for human-rated LVM-3 completed". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
10. Kumar, Chethan (2023-07-15). "Chandrayaan-3 a shot in the arm for Gaganyaan-1". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
11. "Mission Gaganyaan: Better safe than starry". The Economic Times. 2022-05-18. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
12. "First trial for Gaganyaan to be done by end of 2023, or beginning of 2024: Jitendra Singh". The Times of India. 2022-09-13. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
13. Kuthunur, Sharmila (2024-02-27). "India completes critical test for Gaganyaan flight crewed by humanoid robot later this year". space.com. Retrieved 2024-02-28.

Bibliography

• Jones, Andrew (2021-02-23). "India revises Gaganyaan human spaceflight plan, delays Chandrayaan-3". Space News.
• PTI (2021-06-28). "First uncrewed mission of Gaganyaan in December: It's race against time for ISRO now". The Hindu.
• Kumar, Chethan (2022-04-28). "First Gaganyaan uncrewed module to be injected in 170x408km orbit; indicates human spaceflight profile". Times of India.
• Kumar, Chenthan (2022-04-29). "Gaganyaan: First uncrewed mission to have unpressurised crew module". Times of India.
• Bagla, Pallava (2022-05-18). "Mission Gaganyaan: Better safe than starry". Economic Times.
• TNN (2022-07-01). "Chennai: Indian Space Research Organisation to carry out series of tests before launch of Gaganyaan". Times of India.
• ANI (2022-09-13). "First trial for Gaganyaan to be done by end of 2023, or beginning of 2024: Jitendra Singh". Times of India.
• Ramesh, Sandhya (4 December 2022). "India's first human spaceflight Gaganyan in limbo, astronauts partially trained, ISRO silent". ThePrint. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
• "Gaganyaan launch delayed: Manned mission now in 'fourth quarter of 2024'". Times of India. 2022-12-21.
• "Govt shares an update on Gaganyaan, first abort mission likely in two months". 2023-03-16.