CHANDRAYAAN-4, VENUS ORBITER MISSION, NEXT GENERATION LAUNCH VEHICLE, BHARTIYA ANTRIKSH STATION

Source: TIMESOFINDIA

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Context

• The cabinet approved the expansion of the Chandrayaan mission, thus approving the fourth mission of the same.
• The Cabinet also gave its nod for other missions including sending an orbiter to Venus, the next phase of the Gaganyaan missions, the development of an Indian space station, and development of new generation of launch vehicles. 

Read about India’s ongoing space programs:

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/indias-ongoing-space-missions

Gaganyaan Programme

• The Union Cabinet has approved the expansion of theGaganyaan programme to include the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
• This extension revises the original Gaganyaan Programme to now focus on:
• Development of BAS-1: The first module of the space station.
• Missions for Technology Validation: Demonstrating and validating technologies required for building and operating BAS.
• Precursor Missions: Additional uncrewed missions and hardware for BAS development.

Read about Gaganyaan:

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/astronauts-for-gaganyaan-mission

Timeline

• The human spaceflight programme is now designed to include a total of eight missionsby December 2028, culminating in the launch of BAS-1.
• Four Gaganyaan Missionsby 2026: Focused on human spaceflight and technology development.
• Four Missions for BAS Development: By December 2028, these missions will demonstrate and validate technologies for BAS.
• Operational Bharatiya Antariksh Stationby 2035.
• Indian Crewed Lunar Missionby 2040.

Enhanced Funding

• The total funding for the Gaganyaan Programme, with the revised scope to include the BAS, has been increased to ₹20193 Crore.
• The expansion requires an additional ₹11170 Crore over the previously approved budget.

Collaborative Effort

• The Gaganyaan Programmewill be a national effort led by ISRO, with participation from Industry, Academia, National Agencies: Stakeholders from various sectors contributing to the project.
• The programme will be managed through ISRO’s established project management mechanism.

Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS)

India is set to establish its own space station, the BAS, with the launch of its first module planned for 2028.

Read about ISS:

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/international-space-station-42

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/international-space-station-32

Read about Other Space Stations:

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/soyuz-spacecraft

Technological and Economic Impact

• Microgravity Research: BAS will serve as a platform for microgravity-based scientific researchand technology development, leading to technological spin-offs and innovations.
• Increased Industrial Participation: The programme will encourage industrial collaborationin niche high-technology areas, boosting employment in the space and allied sectors.
• National Technological Capabilities: The development of BAS will enhance India’s capabilities in human space missions to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
• The programme will inspire young talent to pursue careers in space technology and scientific research.
• The technological spin-offsfrom space research will have broader applications that benefit society, including advancements in healthcare, telecommunications, and materials science.

Development of a Reusable Low-Cost Launch Vehicle

• India is set to develop a Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV).
• It will focus on high payload capacity, reusability, and cost-effectiveness.

Read about Launch Vehicles:

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/satellite-launch-vehicles#:~:text=Geosynchronous%20Satellite%20Launch%20Vehicle%20(or,satellites%20to%20lower%20earth%20orbits.

Read about Reusable Launch Vehicle:

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/reusable-launch-vehicle-autonomous-landing-mission

Read about NGLV:

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/next-gen-launch-vehicle-nglv

Key Features

• High Payload Capacity: The NGLV will be capable of carrying up to 30 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), three times the payload of the existing LVM3launch vehicle.
• Cost-Effectiveness: With 5 times the costof the LVM3, the NGLV will offer a more economical solution for launching larger payloads.
• Reusability: The reusable first stagewill lower costs by enabling multiple launches with the same vehicle.
• Green Propulsion Systems: The NGLV will incorporate modular green propulsion systems, contributing to environmentally sustainable space missions.

Objectives

The development of NGLV aligns with India's long-term objectives in space exploration, including:

• Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
• Indian Crewed Lunar Mission by 2040.
• Inter-Planetary Missions: Enabling future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
• Satellite Constellations: Supporting national and commercial missions to launch communication and earth observation satellitesinto LEO.

Current Launch Capabilities

At present, India is self-reliant in space transportation systems, with the ability to launch:

• 10 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
• 4 tonnes to Geo-Synchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
• These capabilities are enabled by the PSLV, GSLV, LVM3, and SSLVlaunch vehicles.

Timeline and Funding

• The NGLV development is scheduled for completion within 96 months.
• Three Development Flights (D1, D2, D3): These will demonstrate the vehicle’s capabilities and pave the way for full-scale operations.
• Total Approved Fund: ₹8240 crore.

Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM)

The mission will be managed by the Department of Spaceand executed by ISRO.

Read about Venus:

 https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/venus-12#:~:text=About%20Venus,acid%20clouds%20covering%20the%20globe.

Objectives

• Atmospheric Study: To explore the thick Venusian atmosphere, which is crucial for understanding the planet's climatic evolution.
• Geological Research: To study the planet’s surface and subsurface features to gain insights into its geological history.
• Comparative Planetology: To compare Venus with Earth and Mars, aiding in understanding planetary evolution and climatic changes.

Timeline and Funding

• The Venus Orbiter Mission is scheduled to be launched in March 2028.
• Total Funding: ₹1236 Crore has been approved, with ₹824 Croreallocated for spacecraft development.

Chandrayaan-4 Mission

• The mission will be managed by ISRO, responsible for the spacecraft and launch vehicle development.
• The mission is expected to be completed within 36 monthsof approval.

Read about previous Chandrayaan missions: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/findings-from-chandrayaan-3-mission#:~:text=Context%3A,surface%20composition%20and%20geological%20history.

Read about Moon: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/moon-is-older-than-we-thought

Read about other moons in the solar system: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/moons-in-the-solar-system

Objectives

• Technology Demonstration: To develop and showcase technologies for:
  • • Docking/Undocking: Techniques for lunar and Earth docking.
    • Landing and Safe Return: Achieving safe lunar landing and return to Earth.
    • Sample Collection: Collecting lunar samples and analyzing them on Earth.
• Foundational Technologies: To establish capabilities necessary for a future Indian manned lunar mission, planned for 2040.

Funding

• Total Fund Requirement: ₹2104.06 Crore, covering:
  • • Spacecraft Development: Includes design and realization.
    • Launch Vehicles: Two LVM3 launch missions.
    • External Support: Deep space network support and special design validation tests.
    • Sample Return: Costs associated with landing on the Moon and safely returning with lunar samples.

Sources:

TIMESOFINDIA