• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that it has commenced the assembly of the Human-Rated Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (HLVM3) for Gaganyaan’s first uncrewed flight at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

• The ISRO called it a major step towards India’s maiden human spaceflight and future space ambitions. 

• The event coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3-X/CARE (Crew module Atmospheric Reentry Experiment)) mission, conducted on December 18, 2014. 

Gaganyaan Mission

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Gaganyaan mission in his Independence Day address in 2018.

• Gaganyaan project envisages demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members to an orbit of 400 km for a three days mission and bring them back safely to Earth, by landing in Indian sea waters.

• For the first human spaceflight, four Indian Air Force pilots have been selected and are undergoing extensive training for the mission.

• A budget of Rs 9,023 crore is allocated towards achieving the objectives of the mission.

• ISRO developed indigenous technologies for the launch vehicle, habitable Crew Module, life support system, Crew Escape System, ground station network, crew training and recovery.

• These technologies are crucial to meet the objectives of Gaganyaan mission and to take up any further interplanetary missions.

• Gaganyaan will not be a one-off mission as the government has given us approval for a sustained human spaceflight programme.

Assembly of the Human-Rated Launch Vehicle Mark-3

• The human-rating of LVM3 has been completed and all systems have been tested for enhanced reliability. 

• Ground tests and flight tests in off-nominal conditions have ensured the performance of these systems in line with human safety requirements. 

• The addition of the highly reliable Crew Escape System (CES) has further increased confidence for the manned missions planned by ISRO.

• Escape provision exists for the crew during all phases of ascent till injection of the module into orbit. 

• HLVM3 is a three stage vehicle with a payload capacity of about 10 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which is 53 meters tall and weighs 640 tonnes.

• The Crew Module, designed with enhanced safety margins and multiple redundancies, will fly aboard the Human-rated LVM3, ensuring the safety of the Gaganyatris. The data gained through the un-crewed flights will be instrumental for the success of the manned missions.

• Further, the experience from Gaganyaan programme will play a vital role in the construction and operationalisation of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS). 

• This ambitious endeavour reflects ISRO’s long-term vision and foresight to leverage established heritage for advancing India’s space sector.

• The preparation of both the S200 motors will now take place with the assembly of segments, control systems and avionics. 

• L110 and C32 stages for the HLVM3 are ready at the launch complex. The crew escape systems elements are also received at SDSC.

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