Bhartiya Antriksh Station, Moon & Venus Mission and NGLV | 20 Sep 2024

Source: HT

Why in News?

Recently, the Union Cabinet approved four space projects to be undertaken by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

• Newly approved space projects include Chandrayaan-4, Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM), Bhartiya Antriksh Station (BAS) and Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV).

What are the Newly Approved Space Projects?

• Chandrayaan-4: The mission is designed to land on the lunar surface, collect samples, store them in a vacuum container, and bring them back to earth.
  
  • It will involve spacecraft development, two different Launch Vehicle Mk III launches, deep space network support, and special tests.
  • It will also see docking and undocking — two spacecraft aligning and coming together in orbit — that India hasn’t attempted so far. 
    • It will help India become self-sufficient in technologies for manned missions. India plans to send humans to the moon by 2040.
• Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM): It aims to orbit Venus to study the planet's surface, subsurface, atmospheric processes, and the Sun's impact on its atmosphere by probing its thick atmosphere.
  • Studying Venus is important because it is believed to have once been habitable like Earth. 
  • The mission is scheduled to launch in March 2028 when Earth and Venus are at their closest.
  • This will be India’s second interplanetary mission, after the Mars Orbiter Mission in 2014. 
• Bhartiya Antriksh Station (BAS): BAS will be India's own space station for scientific research. 
  • India will launch its own space station by 2028, plans to operationalise it by 2035 and achieve a crewed lunar mission by 2040.
  • Currently, the only two functioning space stations are the International Space Station and China’s Tiangong.
• Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV): The government also approved the development of a next-generation launch vehicle (NGLV).
  • NGLV will offer three times the current payload capacity of the LVM3, at 1.5 times the cost. 
  • It is designed to carry up to 30 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
  • India’s existing launch vehicles, including SSLV, PSLV, GSLV and LVM3 which have payload capacity ranging from 500 kg to 10,000 kg to LEO and 4,000 kg to Geo-Synchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). 

How will the Space Station Benefit India?

• Microgravity Experiments: A space station would provide a platform for conducting unique scientific experiments in microgravity, which could lead to breakthroughs in materials science, biology, and medicine.
• Innovation: Developing and operating a space station would drive technological advancements and foster innovation in areas such as life support systems, robotics, and space habitats.
  • Chinese cabbage grown on the ISS in the Veggie growth system showed reduced biomass.
• Leadership and Prestige: Having its own space station would enhance India's position as a global leader in space exploration, showcasing its technological prowess and strengthening international partnerships.
  • It will provide Indian companies larger access to satellite manufacturing, servicing and boost the aerospace sector.
• Human Spaceflight Experience: Building on the success of the Gaganyaan mission, a space station would offer extended opportunities for Indian astronauts to gain experience and contribute to long-duration missions.

What are the Challenges in Building and Operating Space Stations?

• Design and Engineering: Space stations require advanced engineering to ensure they can support life in a harsh environment. Challenges include ensuring structural integrity, radiation protection, and maintaining a stable environment for scientific experiments.
• Life Support Systems: Developing reliable systems for air, water, and waste management is crucial. These systems must function autonomously for extended periods, which is technically demanding.
• Affordability for India: Building a space station involves substantial financial investment. Costs include the construction of modules, launch expenses, and the development of life support and scientific equipment. 
  • For instance, the ISS, shared by multiple countries, has cost over USD 150 billion. A smaller, national space station could cost between USD 10-30 billion.
  • ISRO's budget for 2024-25 is about USD 1.95 billion. In contrast, NASA operates with a much larger budget of around USD 25 billion.
  • The USSR abandoned its Mir space station because the costs of operating and maintaining it became increasingly unsustainable.
• Space Race: Engaging with established space powers for collaboration could be complicated by competition for leadership in space technology, particularly with countries like the US, Russia, and China.
• Crew Health and Safety: Ensuring the physical and psychological well-being of astronauts is critical. Prolonged exposure to microgravity and isolation can have adverse effects on health.
  • Prolonged exposure to microgravity can cause astronauts to lose up to 1% of bone mass per month.
  • Changes in fluid distribution in the body can lead to increased intracranial pressure, causing vision-related issues.
• Supply Chain Management: Regular resupply missions are essential for maintaining the station, including delivering food, equipment, and scientific samples. This requires meticulous planning and coordination.
  • E.g., India lacks a fleet of reusable rockets which can be used multiple times for transporting supplies to a space station.

Conclusion

India’s visionary space programme encompasses the development of a space station, a Chandrayaan-4 Moon mission with sample return, and a Venus exploration mission. These initiatives will advance scientific research, enhance understanding of lunar samples, and provide insights into Venus’s conditions, potentially revealing parallels to Earth’s future. This ambitious plan underscores India’s growing prominence in space exploration.