ISRO sets the ball rolling for India’s manned mission to moon

Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) ambitious manned mission to moon received a shot in the arm with eighty senior scientists from various scientific establishments across the country giving the green signal for not only launching an Indian into space by 2014, but also placing a man on the moon by 2020.

The senior scientists, who met at the ISRO headquarters in Bangalore for a brainstorming session on various aspects of the twin space programmes, were unanimous in suggesting that time was appropriate for India to undertake such missions.

ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair told reporters that the senior scientists, who participated in the meeting, were “overwhelmingly positive” to the India’s manned space mission. The preliminary estimated cost for the manned space mission is Rs 100 billion, spread over a period of eight years.

Apart from Nair, well known scientists including Prof U R Rao, Prof Roddam Narasimha and Prof Yash Pal, besides scientists from Defence Researdh and Development Organization (DRDO), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), National Aeronautics Laboratory (NAL) took part in the meeting.

Wing Commander (Retd) Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to walk in the space, also took part in the meeting. “We should have gotten there sooner”, said Sharma, who was part of the Russian Soyuz T-11 mission in 1984.

“I have been in favour of the manned mission since ten years. I think we are a bit late in arriving at this decision, but I am happy that we have finally made it”, he said. He also remarked that the timelines proposed for the space mission are “realistic”.

Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) Dr B N Suresh presented to the gathering of scientists at the meeting the studies carried out by ISRO during the last four years to examine the technological challenges of a manned space mission and the Indian capability to undertake such a mission.

According to a press statement from ISRO, the concept of a manned space mission includes the development of an autonomous Orbital Vehicle, which could be launched by India’s Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle.

Though ISRO had matured in many technologies required for a manned space mission, new developments were required in life support systems, improved reliability and safety, besides crew escape system. “While some of the facilities required are available in the country and can be used with augmentation, a few have to be established afresh”, the ISRO press statement said.