PM Modi reviews progress on Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
“India of the 21st century, is today surprising the world with its potential. In the last 10 years, we have launched about 400 satellites, whereas 10 years before that, only 33 satellites were launched,” said PM Modi.
PM Narendra Modi who arrived in Kerala on Tuesday reviewed the progress on the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthpuram. PM Modi who is on a two-day visit to Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, was accompanied by Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Union Minister V Muraleedharan and ISRO chairman S Somanath.
PM Modi is also scheduled to dedicate three facilities of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to the nation during his visit. Extensive preparations are underway at various ISRO centres for Gaganyaan Mission, India’s first human space flight program.
PM Modi also presented ‘Astronaut Wings’ to astronaut-designates of Gaganyaan Mission- Group Captain P Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap and Wing Commander S Shukla.
“India of the 21st century, is today surprising the world with its potential. In the last 10 years, we have launched about 400 satellites, whereas 10 years before that, only 33 satellites were launched,” said PM Modi.
By 2035, India will have its own space station in space that will help us study the unknown expanses of space. In this period of Amrit Kaal, Indian astronaut will land on the surface of the moon on our own rocket, added PM Modi.
The equipment used in Gaganyaan is ‘Made in India’. In this regard, PM Modi said, “I was very happy to know that most of the equipment used in Gaganyaan is Made in India. What a great coincidence it is that when India is taking off to become the top 3 economy of the world, at the same time India’s Gaganyaan is also going to take our space sector to a new height.”
According to the Prime Minister’s office, PM’s vision to reform the country’s space sector to realise its full potential, and his commitment to enhance technical and R&D (research and development) capability in the sector will get a boost as three important space infrastructure projects will be inaugurated during his visit to Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram.
The projects include the PSLV Integration Facility (PIF) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota; new ‘Semi-cryogenics Integrated Engine and stage Test facility’ at ISRO Propulsion Complex at Mahendragiri; and ‘Trisonic Wind Tunnel’ at VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram. These three projects providing world-class technical facilities for the space sector have been developed at a cumulative cost of about Rs. 1800 crore.
The PSLV Integration Facility (PIF) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota will help in boosting the frequency of PSLV launches from 6 to 15 per year. This state-of-the-art facility can also cater to the launches of SSLV and other small launch vehicles designed by private space companies.
According to the official statement, the new ‘Semi-cryogenics Integrated Engine and stage Test facility’ at IPRC Mahendragiri will enable development of semi cryogenic engines and stages which will increase the payload capability of the present launch vehicles.
The facility is equipped with liquid oxygen and kerosene supply systems to test engines up to 200 tons of thrust. Wind tunnels are essential for aerodynamic testing for characterisation of rockets and aircraft during flight in the atmospheric regime.
The “Trisonic Wind Tunnel” at VSSC being inaugurated is a complex technological system which will serve our future technology development needs.
