India's Human Spaceflight Programme: Gaganyaan and Beyond

TOPIC CLASSIFICATION

Subject: Science & Technology - Space Technology - Human Spaceflight
Sub-topic: Gaganyaan Programme - Crew Module, Service Module, Launch Vehicle (LVM3-Human Rated), Crew Escape System, Vyommitra (Half-Humanoid), Vyomanauts (Astronauts), ISRO's Human Spaceflight Capabilities, Associated Technologies - Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS), Space Suits, Crew Training, Recovery Operations; Beyond Gaganyaan - Bharatiya Antariksha Station (Indian Space Station - 2035), Lunar Missions (Chandrayaan-4/5), Mangalyaan-2, Interplanetary Human Missions (Long-Term Vision)
Mains GS Paper-III: Science & Technology - space technology, ISRO achievements, human spaceflight, strategic and technological implications.

---

EXAMINER REASONING

Gaganyaan is India's first human spaceflight mission, making India the 4th nation (after USA, Russia, China) to launch humans independently. Prelims tests: Gaganyaan mission architecture (crew module, service module, LVM3-HR), Vyommitra, HALE (Human Analog Life Support Experiment), ISRO's astronaut training centre, Vyomanauts (Group Captain's Prashanth Nair, Angad Pratap, Ajit Krishnan, Wing Commander S. Shukla). Mains demands: (a) Gaganyaan mission profile - uncrewed flights (2024-25), crewed flight to Low Earth Orbit (400km, 1-3 days), recovery in Arabian Sea, (b) critical technologies developed - Crew Escape System (tested in Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 - 2023), Human-rated LVM3 (HLVM3), ECLSS, Crew Module (3.7m diameter, 8 tonne), parachute-based recovery, (c)...