Ahead of the launch of India's maiden human spaceflight venture '<keyword id="6797456" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gaganyaan">Gaganyaan</keyword>' in December 2021, the Indian Space Research Organisation will undertake two unmanned missions in December 2020 and June 2021, ISRO chairman K Sivan said on Wednesday. Addressing the inaugural session of a symposium on "Human Spaceflight and Exploration - Present Challenges and Future Trends," Sivan said the Gaganyaan mission not only aims at India's maiden human flight to the space but also setting up a new space station for 'continuous space human presence'. "We are doing all this (Gaganyaan) on three points - short term plan of two unmanned mission in December 2020 and June 2021, followed by human space flight demonstration in December 2021. We have the mid term goal of sustaining the human space programme and continuous space human presence in space on a new space station", he said. In this regard, the ISRO has initiated a full-fledged astronaut training facility in close proximity to Bengaluru for meeting its future requirements. The space agency is also in talks with NASA and other space agencies and industries on how it can collaborate on human space flight and learn from their experience. The Gaganyaan will also assist in ISRO's long term goal of inter-planetary mission. "Inter-planetary mission is also on the agenda in the long term," the ISRO Chief said. On Gaganyaan mission, Sivan said the space agency has already developed and demonstrated key technologies such as having an operational launcher with 10-tonne playload capability to lower orbit, demonstration ofmission design and management, and recovery system like space qualified parachutes. "The only missing element were human life science and life support system, which we are developing now," he said. ISRO, Sivan said, has taken onboard many national labs, academic institutions, DRDO labs, Indian Air Force, CSIR Labas well as many industries as stakeholders for Gaganyaanprogramme. Noting that the astronauts have been selected from a pool of Indian Air Force test pilots, Sivan said the generic space flight training will commence in India shortly. A mission specific training will be carried out in India using a host of simulators and other facilities, he added. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/budget-2020-isro-needs-rs-666-cr-for-chandrayaan-3/articleshow/73462546.cms">Exploring space is expensive — and ISRO needs more money from the 2020 Union Budget</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/chandrayaan-3-and-gaganyaan-top-priorities-for-isro-in-2020/articleshow/73063629.cms">India's second mission to land on the Moon, Chandrayaan 3, confirmed by ISRO chief</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/madhavans-rocketry-isro-spy-case-nambi-narayan-gets-1-3-compensation/articleshow/72991747.cms">An Indian rocket scientist lost 25 years falsely accused of being a spy— now he will get $180,000 as compensation</a>

ISRO will send two unmmaned missions into space before Gaganyaan

<ul><li>India is lauded for bringing about cost-effective space exploration globally. </li><li>But, most of India’s missions, like Mangalyaan and the upcoming Gaganyaan, are technology demonstrators rather than long term voyages to collect data. </li><li>Bringing the Space Activities Bill to fruition to allow for private participation might be one way that India can plan for longer and more indulgent space missions. </li></ul>India is globally touted for its cost effective space missions. <keyword id="45499" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chandrayaan">Chandrayaan</keyword> 2, for example, is revered for being cheaper than producing <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/chandrayaan-2-cheaper-than-avengers-endgame-what-the-foreign-press-says/articleshow/70208309.cms">Avengers: Endgame</a>. Mangalyaan is celebrated as the <a href="https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2014/09/23/how-india-mounted-the-worlds-cheapest-mission-to-mars/">most affordable</a> mission to Mars in the world. But there’s a catch. Cutting down on costs for space exploration means that India is able to collect less data and its missions are quick. "There are many factors. The entire cycle, the entire process of building a space mission is compromised," Chaitanya Giri, a fellow for space and ocean studies at Gateway House — a think tank focussing of India’s global relations — told Business Insider India. Shorter timelines "So, we’re not investing in these missions as long duration missions. So, if you look at the European Space Agency (<a href="https://m.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/How_a_mission_is_chosen">ESA</a>), for instance, classifies its space missions into three categories — the S class, the M class and the L class (small, medium and large class)," explains Giri. The National Aeronautics and Space Agency (<a href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20180007026.pdf">NASA</a>) also classifies its missions from Class A to D depending on the priority of the mission, its national significance, the mission’s lifetime and how much it’s going to cost. "For instance, there are a few American missions that have been going on for over a decade. And, that takes a lot of money," Giri adds. In India, on the other hand, most of the projects have very short timelines. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/after-mangalyaan-india-wants-to-be-the-first-to-explore-the-dark-side-of-the-moon/articleshow/64793523.cms">Mangalyaan</a> was sanctioned and deployed within a span of two years. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/how-india-is-inching-a-step-closer-to-its-mission-of-sending-an-astronaut-into-space-by-2022/articleshow/66632355.cms">Gangayaan</a> was announced in 2018 and has plans to get astronauts off the ground by 2021. Even <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/what-were-the-challenges-with-chandrayaan-1/articleshow/70202192.cms">Chandrayaan 1</a>, India’s mission to the moon that led to the discovery of water was announced in 2003 and launched by 2008. It was planned that the mission would operate for 2 years, but communication with the probe was lost after 10 months. MAVEN vs MOM The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/mars-orbiter-mission-completes-4-years-in-pictures/articleshow/65972664.cms">Mars Orbiter Mission</a>, or Mangalyaan, was sanctioned in 2011 and launched a mere two years later in 2013 on a budget of $74 million. NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft, on the other hand, cost $671 million and launched a little later in 2013. Explaining the difference between the Mars missions, Giri states, "MOM, when it was launched, was touted as a technology demonstrator mission. We had never gone to Mars before, so the prerogative was to reach there and take those sojourn of months and do some basic science. Secondly, we went there on a PSLV rocket. PSLV can only carry a spacecraft, that’s at most, 1.5 tonnes." "And, if you look in comparison, the MAVEN was much heavier. MAVEN was laden a lot of diverse instruments and we were carrying only 5 instruments. So, we can’t really expect much science from those five instruments," Giri adds. More money more power India’s smaller budgets aren’t a matter of choice but necessity. ESA and NASA aren’t exclusively dependent on government spending — they nurture the private space industrial sector as well. In India, private participation in what is largely considered to be ISRO’s domain, is absent. And, one of the things standing in the way is the Space Activities Bill. "Space Activities Bill has not been discussed in the Parliament. The first version was tabled but it was never taken up. There needs to be some consensus within the space industrial sector in India. If there is unity among them, then things might proceed," says Giri. The government is reportedly <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-space-activities-bill-addresses-damage-in-outer-space/articleshow/69960212.cms">processing the bill</a> to align its liabilities in outer space with international standards. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/heres-why-chandrayaan-2-is-landmark-moon-mission-for-india/articleshow/69842571.cms">India's second moon mission Chandrayaan 2 that will cost ₹10 billion will break new records</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-is-spending-1-4-billion-on-a-space-trip-and-there-are-bigger-plans-involved/articleshow/65591318.cms">India is spending $1.4 billion on a space trip and there are bigger plans involved</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/union-budget-2019-isros-new-commerical-arm-is-new-space-india-limited/articleshow/70086097.cms">India forms a new space company to sell ISRO’s space technology products</a>

India’s low cost space missions come at a price

New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a visit to ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Station on Tuesday, announced the names of four astronauts who have been chosen for <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword>'s historic <keyword id="19945102" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gaganyaan" source="keywords">Gaganyaan</keyword> mission. The selected astronauts are currently going through intense training for country's first human space flight mission, slated for 2025. The four astronauts, selected for the Gaganyaan mission are Group Captain <keyword id="20747034" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="prasanth-balakrishnan-nair" source="keywords">Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair</keyword>, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap and Wing Commander <keyword id="20747033" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shubhanshu-shukla" source="keywords">Shubhanshu Shukla</keyword>. While announcing names of the four astronauts, PM Modi expressed happiness and said that they will bring new glory to nation's space exploration programs. Notably, Gaganyaan would be India's first human space mission. All-out preparations are underway at ISRO for the project. Gagayaan would add another feat to India's successful space exploration programs. In previous display of space prowess, India became the only nation last year to make successful landing of Chandrayaan on the South Pole of the <keyword id="19899207" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="moon" source="keywords">Moon</keyword>. By 2035, ISRO plans to set up own 'Bharatiya Antariksha Station' and has also prepared a timeline to send first Indian to the Moon by 2040.

Meet the four astronauts who will steer India's Gaganyaan mission

<ul><li>India has 250 agreements covering space exploration, human spaceflight, and joint experiments with 59 countries around the world. </li><li>Among them, Russia, the US, Russia, and Israel are front runners, according to <keyword id="116095" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Space-Research-Organisation">Indian Space Research Organisation</keyword> (ISRO) chief <keyword id="2003919" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="K-Sivan">K Sivan</keyword>. </li><li>Russia is currently helping the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots train for ISRO’s <keyword id="2621282" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Human-Space-Flight">human space flight</keyword> mission Gagayaan, facilitated using critical medical technology from France. </li></ul>Russia, the US, Japan, and Israel are India’s leading partners when it comes to space cooperation. However, the country has signed over 250 documents in the field with over 59 countries around the world, according to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief K. Sivan at the <keyword id="471736" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="International-Astronautical-Congress">International Astronautical Congress</keyword> (IAC) 2020. <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype="Video"><cdata><![CDATA[<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xIXj7FwBzsI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>]]></cdata></div> Partnerships with foreign agencies range from cooperation in human spaceflight to planetary exploration and joint experiments. ISRO’s main space exploration partners ISRO is working on its own missions — but everyone can do with a little help for their friends. For instance, Russia is currently training the Indian Air Force (IAF) officers for India’s first human space flight mission <keyword id="6797456" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gaganyaan">Gaganyaan</keyword>. France is providing critical medical technology for the mission. “After realising two joint satellites, Megha-Tropiques and Saral, ISRO AND CNES (National Centre for Space Studies) are working towards realising third mission named Krishna,” said Sivan. The US-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration (<keyword id="6360409" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nasa">NASA</keyword>) and ISRO are also collaborating on multiple fronts, like developing the NISAR satellite and the sharing data collected by the US Geological Survey (USGS). Aiming for the Moon, ISRO's current partnership with the Japanese space agency JAXA is preparing for a lunar polar exploration mission. According to Sivan, international cooperation is a ‘hallmark’ of the Indian space programme. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-gets-one-step-closer-to-sending-tourists-into-space/articleshow/78656520.cms">Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin gets one step closer to sending tourists into space</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/wipro-share-price-dips-after-earnings-report-analysts-believe-it-will-take-a-while-to-catch-up-to-tcs-and-hcl-technologies/articleshow/78654023.cms">Wipro’s share price dips by over 6% after earnings — analysts believe it will take a while to catch up to TCS and HCL Technologies</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/myntra-ceo-explains-how-fashion-buying-has-changed-in-india-and-the-e-retailers-focus-on-bharat-users-this-festive-season/articleshow/78654904.cms">Myntra CEO explains how fashion buying has changed in India and the e-retailer’s focus on Bharat users this festive season</a>

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ISRO will send two unmmaned missions into space before Gaganyaan

PTI

India’s low cost space missions come at a price

Prabhjote Gill

Meet the four astronauts who will steer India's Gaganyaan mission

IANS

India has signed 250 documents on space cooperation with 59 countries, says ISRO chief K Sivan

Prabhjote Gill