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#460 by sanman on 18 Jan, 2019 04:41
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As per media reports, ISRO plans to send humanoid robots in unmanned flights of Gaganyaan capsule as preparation for it's Human Spaceflight.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/before-humans-humanoids-to-do-experiments-in-space/articleshow/67580180.cms
Regarding what Sivan said:QuoteHe said that Isro will fly the humanoid in both the unmanned flights planned before the actual human spaceflight mission. "Our robot will be like a human, and be able to do whatever a man can do, although not as extensively as humans. We want to show that even the first flight will not go empty and also ensure that we utilise the opportunity in the maximum way. We have our own humanoid model that will be used," he said.
What does that mean? Is it a crash-test dummy? Perhaps with embedded sensors? -
#461 by chetan_chpd on 18 Jan, 2019 05:09
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I think it will not be a high tech machine like "Sophia", could be a crash test dummy like structure with some actuators mounted on it to do some basic mechanical operations (pressing buttons, moving things from a to b).
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#462 by sanman on 18 Jan, 2019 06:19
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I don't get what purpose would be served by actuating a crash-test dummy. When Blue Origin sent up New Shepard with a dummy inside ("Skywalker"), they didn't bother to equip it with actuators.
I wonder if ISRO's dummy would be wearing a spacesuit on the flight, like Skywalker did? At least then any sensors embedded in the dummy can be used to measure forces/loads through the spacesuit.
Also, most importantly - what name will be given to the dummy? (No politician jokes, please) -
#463 by worldtimedate on 18 Jan, 2019 06:20
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By reading this report, it appears to me that Gaganyaan mission is in full swing and ISRO will be able to conduct the Indian Manned Mission in due time. All this is attributed to the work initiated by ISRO since the tenure of former chairman G. Madhavan Nair. The fact that Robot type humanoid is ready and gaganyaan design will be frozen by next week implies that this manned mission is on schedule.Quote
"We had set up 11 Concept Review Committees (CRC) with each CRC focusing on one or more sub-systems. All of them have completed their review and we've already had one meeting of the Integrated Committee meeting. The design is likely to be finalised and frozen either this week or next week, which will be followed by procurement, making of proto-models and tests" Sivan said.
QuoteThe important CRCs are those that studied the Orbital module (crew and service module together), which is part of the mechanical systems and the ones on electrical systems, Navigation and Guidance Control systems, environmental control systems, crew escape system and human rating of launch.
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#464 by chetan_chpd on 18 Jan, 2019 08:33
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AIR news (All India Radio) says that ISRO chairman Mr. K. Sivan confirms planned launch of two unmanned Gaganyaan test flights during Dec' 2020 and July' 2021 respectively before manned launch in Dec' 2021.
This info comes from a press conference held in New Delhi, so we can safely take it as an official word and not just casual mission update.
http://www.newsonair.com/Main-News-Details.aspx?id=358238 -
#465 by chetan_chpd on 18 Jan, 2019 13:45
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New info: Nothing yet decided on astronaut training in Russia or France.
(ISRO chairman press conference highlights
https://www.chetansindiaspaceflight.com/2019/01/news-update-isro-chairman-press.html) -
#466 by chetan_chpd on 19 Jan, 2019 10:02
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"ISRO could have launched Indians in space in 2015 but..."
As per former ISRO chairman Madhavan Nair, ISRO could have put Indians in LEO in 2015 if only the "Political factors" and ISRO "management" had shown more interest in the project.
Many ISRO engineers and managers felt being ready for this challenge since 2005 and started taking serious steps towards the project's progress.
(https://www.chetansindiaspaceflight.com/2019/01/news-update-isro-could-have-launched.html) -
#467 by chetan_chpd on 19 Jan, 2019 16:33
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Indians on moon and mars, K.Sivan dares dreams big
Chairman of ISRO, Mr. K.Sivan dares to dream big. In an interview, he answered some questions with very ambitious space plans.
"Every country, not just government agencies but even private agencies are moving towards the presence of humans in space. Now we are talking about habitation in the moon, and Mars, these are all going to happen after some time and at the time we should not be blinking, now we have to put down fundamentals so we know how to adapt to conditions."
"We are noticing unexpected behavior of the sun, and these changes will have a direct impact on climate change. This is at the same time our natural resources are getting depleted and our protected mechanism are being disturbed by so many issues like pollution. The net effect is going to mean the earth is not going to be conducive for human habitation."
(https://www.chetansindiaspaceflight.com/2019/01/news-update-indians-on-moon-and-mars.html) -
#468 by worldtimedate on 20 Jan, 2019 05:35
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Astronauts on Gaganyaan likely to be pilots, hints ISROQuote
The astronauts on the human space mission 'Gaganyaan' will mostly be pilots, hinted Indian Space Research Organisation scientists on Friday. "We are looking for people with sufficient flying experience," said an ISRO scientist requesting anonymity.
ISRO Chairman K Sivan said the Indian Air Force and other agencies will play a major role during the selection of astronauts for the human space mission project. Another scientist said the Defence Research and Development Organisation too will play a major role in this endeavour. -
#469 by worldtimedate on 20 Jan, 2019 07:31
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Suits from Vadodara, parachutes from Agra: Inside ISRO's plan to launch India's first astronautsQuote
Isro is building three sets of rockets, crew and service module. Each of these sets will be used for one of these three missions - two unmanned missions planned for December 2020 and June-July 2021, and the actual mission by December 2021 or early 2022. All systems for a space launch are designed with redundancies, but a human-rated mission needs a much higher degree of redundancy. The reliability targeted for human-rated launch vehicle is 0.99, which means only 1 out of 100 can be unreliable. For the crew escape system, Isro targeting greater than 0.998, that's almost 100 per cent, reliability.
QuoteIAF is getting ready to identify a pool of ace pilots who would undergo a battery of tests, including psychological assessments. The selection would be over by the end of this year. The Institute of Aerospace Medicine will play a critical role in the selection and training of astronauts which will involve the extensive use of simulators and the human centrifuge system. India's indigenously developed astronaut crew escape suit will bear the 'Made in Vadodara' tag. The suit is 20 per cent lighter and one hundredth of the cost of its foreign counterparts. The astronaut crew escape suit will see the best of both American and Russian space suits.
QuoteWhen the three Indian astronauts return to the earth after spending a week in the space, they would use parachutes manufactured in Agra. The astronauts will be brought back to the earth by a pair of parachutes specially-made by Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment - one of the laboratories under the Defence Research and Development Organisation, according to a Deccan Herald report.
On their journey back to earth, the astronauts would first have to lower the Gaganyaan to a 120 km orbit, where the separation of crew module will take place. After separation, they will take about 36 minutes to descend. The splash-down would be at a place close to the Gujarat coast in the Arabian Sea. These parachutes will reduce the speed of the crew module from 216 mt per second to 11 mt per second on touchdown. -
#470 by chetan_chpd on 20 Jan, 2019 13:33
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The weird looking "sophia" rip off called "Rashmi" could be India's first robot astronaut in 2020.
Since ISRO already said that it will send "humanoid" first and not animal during Gaganyaan test flights, Rashmi could well be the one.
The news report says that two ISRO officials have "approached" the "amateur engineer" (who build Rashmi) and final decision will be taken at Isro headquarters in Bengaluru "following a review soon".
The amateur engineer Mr. Ranjeet Srivastava said a lot of cool things about his creation and few details about ISRO scientists "interviewing" the robot.
(Personally I think this is just a publicity stunt by him and ISRO would never send a "out of their/contractor's lab" hardware in this mission.)
(https://www.chetansindiaspaceflight.com/2019/01/news-update-this-could-be-indias-first.html) -
#471 by sanman on 21 Jan, 2019 02:12
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'Gaganyaan likely to land off Gujarat coast near Veraval'
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gaganyaan-likely-to-land-off-gujarat-coast-near-veraval/articleshow/67617565.cmsQuote"....We are going to put two or three persons in space before August 15, 2022, our 75th year of Independence. They will be in orbit for five to seven days and will land on Gujarat coast near Veraval," said Nilesh Desai, deputy director of the Space Applications Centre (SAC) at Isro in Ahmedabad.
...
On December 26, 2018, founding director of Indian Institute of Space Sciences and Technology Dr B N Suresh had presented Isro chairman K Sivan’s slides at anniversary general meeting of Indian National Science Academy (INSA) at Ahmedabad-based Physical Research Laboratory (PRL).
According to the slides, the splashdown of Gaganyaan’s crew capsule will be “off Gujarat coast”. -
#472 by chetan_chpd on 21 Jan, 2019 03:55
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'Gaganyaan likely to land off Gujarat coast near Veraval'
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gaganyaan-likely-to-land-off-gujarat-coast-near-veraval/articleshow/67617565.cmsQuote"....We are going to put two or three persons in space before August 15, 2022, our 75th year of Independence. They will be in orbit for five to seven days and will land on Gujarat coast near Veraval," said Nilesh Desai, deputy director of the Space Applications Centre (SAC) at Isro in Ahmedabad.
...
On December 26, 2018, founding director of Indian Institute of Space Sciences and Technology Dr B N Suresh had presented Isro chairman K Sivan’s slides at anniversary general meeting of Indian National Science Academy (INSA) at Ahmedabad-based Physical Research Laboratory (PRL).
According to the slides, the splashdown of Gaganyaan’s crew capsule will be “off Gujarat coast”.
for that splashdown location,
Advantage: political points for BJP party (will be in power in that state during gaganyaan missions) and current PM Modi (since he comes from Gujrat)
Drawback: very close to Pakistani waters. If re-entry parameters are only fractionally off target, this issue could become serious. -
#473 by K210 on 21 Jan, 2019 04:51
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'Gaganyaan likely to land off Gujarat coast near Veraval'
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gaganyaan-likely-to-land-off-gujarat-coast-near-veraval/articleshow/67617565.cmsQuote"....We are going to put two or three persons in space before August 15, 2022, our 75th year of Independence. They will be in orbit for five to seven days and will land on Gujarat coast near Veraval," said Nilesh Desai, deputy director of the Space Applications Centre (SAC) at Isro in Ahmedabad.
...
On December 26, 2018, founding director of Indian Institute of Space Sciences and Technology Dr B N Suresh had presented Isro chairman K Sivan’s slides at anniversary general meeting of Indian National Science Academy (INSA) at Ahmedabad-based Physical Research Laboratory (PRL).
According to the slides, the splashdown of Gaganyaan’s crew capsule will be “off Gujarat coast”.
for that splashdown location,
Advantage: political points for BJP party (will be in power in that state during gaganyaan missions) and current PM Modi (since he comes from Gujrat)
Drawback: very close to Pakistani waters. If re-entry parameters are only fractionally off target, this issue could become serious.
Splashdown near gujarat makes no sense not only from safety point of view but also but logical point of view. All tracking/human space flight infrastructure will be in south so the bay of bengal would be a more logical choice for splashdown zone.
As for the political angle i wish politicians would not turn this into a political football. -
#474 by Steven Pietrobon on 21 Jan, 2019 06:17
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Here's the location of the Gujarat coast, for those (like myself) wondering where that was. The marker is on Veraval.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Veraval,+Gujarat,+India/@20.8943951,70.3938256,6z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x3bfd32308996ab5b:0xf285471b09bfa777!8m2!3d20.9158979!4d70.3628516 -
#475 by chetan_chpd on 31 Jan, 2019 03:36
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News update: Bangaluru gets 'Human Spaceflight Centre'
ISRO unveiled its 'Human Spaceflight Centre' in Bengaluru on Wednesday;
Gaganyaan is the "highest priority" for ISRO in 2019;
former ISRO chairman K. Kasturirangan and K. Sivan, current chairman and Secretary, Department of Space inaugurated HSFC at ISRO HQ campus in Bengaluru;
a full scale model of Gaganyaan spacecraft was also unveiled;
HSFC's work: end to end mission planning, development of engineering systems, crew selection and training etc.;
S. Unnikrishnan Nair- Founder Director of HSFC
R. Hutton- Project Director of Gaganyaan
(https://www.chetansindiaspaceflight.com/2019/01/news-update-bangaluru-gets-human.html)
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#476 by chetan_chpd on 08 Feb, 2019 04:26
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News update: IAM in Bengaluru to help Gaganyaan astronauts- but how?
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/iam-health-helpline-for-gaganyaan-crew/articleshow/67891422.cms
IAF's Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Bengaluru is in talks with ISRO for providing "aerospace medicine support" to Gaganyaan crew.
Air Marshal Rajvir Singh, Director General, Medical Services (AIR) said that two meetings were held with ISRO regarding this issue. Nothing has been officially finalized yet.
Bipin Puri, Director General, Armed Forces Medical Services said, "the institute has played a crucial role in many aerospace missions, including long hours of flying of fighter aircraft in the past. Enhancing human performance and flight safety ***".
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Source: https://idrw.org/institute-of-aerospace-medicine-in-talks-with-isro-to-provide-medical-support-to-gaganyaan/
Bipin Puri-"***ISRO wants to join hands with IAM to train the crew members***".
Rajvir Singh-"The complexities of life support in space are enormous. And IAM is the only centre in the country to contribute in this direction. We are currently in discussion with ISRO to provide full spectrum of life support to the crew members of the space mission"
As per the IAM website, the institute, earlier called Institute of Aviation Medicine, had provided medical support to the Indo-Soviet Manned Space Flight programme in 1980s.
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Questions:
1. how exactly IAM is going to support?
providing only medicines and/or "performance enhancers"
conducting tests on candidates for issuing fitness certificate
helping ISRO design "life support system"
consultancy
complete training of astronauts with help of ISRO
2. what happened to earlier plans of sending crew to Russia/ France for such training? -
#477 by sanman on 11 Feb, 2019 00:08
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ISRO tasks Indian Air Force to Train 10 Astronaut Candidates for Gaganyaan:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/isro-gives-iaf-task-to-train-10-astronauts-for-gaganyaan/articleshow/67931668.cmsQuoteNEW DELHI: Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has finally tasked the Indian Air Force for selection and training of 10 crew members for the country’s first human spaceflight programme or Gaganyaan.
Talking to TOI, Isro chairman K Sivan said, “We have fixed all criteria and requirements for crew selection and training and submitted the same to the IAF. The air force has now been given the full task of selection and training of the crew. The first two levels of training of the crew will happen at the IAF’s Institute of Aerospace Medicine (Bengaluru) and the final phase of training will be abroad.”
On the number of crew, Sivan said, “We want IAF to train 10 candidates for the Gaganyaan mission. Out of them, we will pick final three for the maiden space journey.” On crew training abroad, the chairman said they have two-three countries like Russia and France in mind and but “no final call has been taken yet”.
IAM, which is affiliated to the Armed Forces Medical Services, is the only institute in India and South East Asia that conducts research in aerospace medicine. It conducts research in aerospace medicine and trains airmen and pilots. The institute, earlier called Institute of Aviation Medicine, had earlier provided medical support to the Indo-Soviet manned space flight programme in 1980s. “Since the infrastructure such as simulators at IAM is one of the best in the country, Isro wants to join hands with IAM to train the crew members of Gaganyaan mission,” said Bipin Puri, director general, Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), according to an agency report. -
#478 by chetan_chpd on 15 Feb, 2019 05:48
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News Update: Can Modi become India's Kennedy?
(Pic: Indian PM Modi announcing Manned Space Mission 'Gaganyaan'-2018/ former US president J.F. Kennedy asserting Manned Moon Mission 'Apollo'-1962)
Source: https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/gaganyaan-isro-should-learn-from-the-american-voyage-to-the-moon/1488081/
quote from the article...
..."Although the task (USA's Apollo Project) was extremely costly, taking this risk proved extremely successful for the US in the long run. This whole episode is a great lesson for the critiques of ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission. What they need to understand is that for India to become a formidable space power, it needs to take risks—much like what the US did in the 1960s—to reap the benefits afterwards."
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#479 by worldtimedate on 17 Feb, 2019 06:12
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Gaganyaan's review panel to meet in MarchQuote
A national review committee on Gaganyaan is slated to meet for the first time here on March 5 and 6 and comprehensively scan the contours of the first Indian human mission to space. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) wants to unveil the human mission's details to stakeholders from multiple agencies, and also keep the nation in the loop about the prestigious mission, K.Sivan, ISRO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Space, said. He added, "It should also give us the confidence that we are on the right track with such a humongous project."
Agreements and programmes planned with the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will start taking shape from now on, Dr. Sivan told The Hindu. "Gaganyaan-related activities are in full swing," he said, under the newly formed Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) and a dedicated project team.QuoteGaganyaan is slated to take place at a ‘near-Earth' distance of 400 km. Before that, two unmanned trial flights with human-friendly capsules are to be flown in 2020, carrying a few micro-gravity experiments. "In order to have three flight-ready finalists as crew, we need to give astronaut training to at least ten [eligible] persons," he said.
The astronauts will be mainly trained at the IAF's Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Bengaluru. The area of Environment Control and Life Support Systems (ELCSS) is said to be the most important for making the capsule habitable for astronauts. The life sciences labs of the DRDO work in this area.