Despite multiple successful launches this year and in 2022 in which ISRO helped several other countries launch their satellites, India’s space organization has been denied the tech to engineer and make the Life Support System for its Gaganyaan mission.
ISRO Chairman S. Somanath has announced that the space agency will independently develop the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission.
Speaking at the Manohar Parrikar Vidnyan Mahotsav 2023, Somanath highlighted ISRO’s lack of experience in ECLSS development, which traditionally focuses on rocket and satellite design.
“We have no experience in developing an environmental control life support system. We were only designing rockets and satellites. We thought this knowledge would come from other nations, but unfortunately, after so much discussion, nobody is willing to give it to us,” Somanath said.
The Gaganyaan project aims to demonstrate India’s capabilities in human spaceflight, intending to propel a crew to a 400 km orbit by 2025.
Somanath emphasized ISRO’s commitment to indigenous development, leveraging existing knowledge and local industries.
Addressing the challenges of the Gaganyaan program, Somanath stressed the nation’s dedication to skill-building and design enhancement. He highlighted the need for increased skill and confidence for successful human space travel, acknowledging the inherent risks in rocket launches.
“When we send humans to space through our Gaganyan program, I think the amount of skill and confidence that we need to have has to be higher than what we currently have,” he said.
Somanath underscored ISRO’s efforts in embedding intelligence within rockets, using sensor data, artificial intelligence, and swift decision-making to prevent potential failures.
He emphasized the importance of split-second decisions during contingencies, advocating for developing technologies to handle rocket failures preemptively.
In pursuing human spaceflight capabilities, ISRO remains committed to pioneering new technologies for astronaut safety and mission success.
Somanath also emphasized the core principle of human spaceflight, ensuring astronaut safety by incorporating intelligence into rockets to prevent and address failures during launches. ISRO is actively working on technologies that involve synthesizing data, predicting failures, and making split-second decisions to safeguard astronauts during space missions.
