The Man Behind Mission India 2047 Exclusive Interview with Dr. V. Narayanan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

Indeed, the recent announcement of an Indian Space Station by 2035 and a human Moon landing by 2040 has ignited tremendous enthusiasm both within India and across the global space community. These are incredibly ambitious, yet achievable, goals that signify India’s growing prowess and commitment to leading the way in space exploration. These activities are initiated by the guidelines given by Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modiji.

Having said this, we also understand that there are certain challenges. Let me briefly outline the key milestones and challenges, and how ISRO is preparing to realize this vision.

Let’s talk about the establishment of the Indian Space Station (as we call it Bharatiya Antariksha Station – BAS) by 2035. Key Milestones for realisation of BAS include,

Success of Gaganyaan Programme – The foundational step is the successful completion of the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program. This includes multiple uncrewed test flights (G1, G2, G3) to validate critical systems like the Human-Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3), Crew Module, Service Module, Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS), and Crew Escape System (CES). Subsequently, two crewed missions are planned, which are critical for demonstrating our capability to send humans to orbit and bring them back safely.

Module Development and Launch: BAS will be developed in a modular fashion. The first module’s development (BAS-1) has already been approved, and its successful realization and launch will be a significant milestone, which is targeted for 2028. We envision a multi-module (five modules) station having 52 52-tonne mass by 2035.

Docking Capabilities: We have successfully demonstrated autonomous docking capabilities with our SPADEX mission, which is crucial for assembling the space station in orbit and for future resupply missions. We need to upgrade these technologies to the International Docking System Standard (IDSS). Towards this, two additional uncrewed missions (G4 and G5) are planned as part of the Gaganyaan Programme.

Long-Duration Habitation: Developing and testing systems for long-duration human presence in space, including radiation protection, waste management, and closed-loop life support systems, will be progressively achieved.

Astronaut Training and Medical Preparedness: Rigorous training of astronauts for extended stays in microgravity and developing comprehensive space medicine protocols are paramount.

Coming to Challenges,

a) BAS is a technologically complex mission, and building a space station is a colossal undertaking. It demands cutting-edge technology for life support, radiation shielding, power generation, thermal control, and structural integrity that needs to be developed and perfected.

b) Budgetary Allocation: A project of this magnitude requires substantial and sustained financial investment. While the government under Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has shown very strong support, securing and efficiently utilizing the necessary budget will be a continuous challenge.

c) Logistics and Assembly: Launching multiple large modules and assembling them precisely in orbit is a complex logistical and engineering feat, requiring advanced robotics and precise rendezvous and docking capabilities.

d) Long-Term Sustainability: Ensuring the station’s operational longevity, including regular maintenance, resupply, and managing space debris, will demand continuous innovation and dedicated resources.

e) International Cooperation: While we aim for an indigenous station, international collaboration can offer valuable insights, resource sharing, and risk mitigation. Navigating geopolitical considerations in space will be important.

Now, coming to the  Human Moon Landing by 2040, it is every Indian citizen’s dream to achieve this feat. The Key Milestones for this challenging mission include:

Advanced Launch Vehicle Development: To send humans to the Moon, we will need more powerful launch vehicles beyond the current LVM3, capable of lifting heavier payloads, including the lunar lander and ascent vehicle, and the necessary propulsion stages for trans-lunar injection. The development of a new Moon Rocket is crucial.

Lunar Lander and Ascent Vehicle: Designing, developing, and testing a robust lunar lander capable of soft landing on the Moon’s surface with astronauts and an ascent vehicle to return them to lunar orbit are critical. Chandrayaan-3 has given us invaluable experience in soft landing, and Chandrayaan-4 is designed to demonstrate sample return, which includes ascent from the lunar surface and docking in lunar orbit. These are direct precursors.

Deep Space Navigation and Communication: Mastering navigation and communication over vast distances to the Moon and back will require upgrades to our ground stations and deep space network.

Lunar Orbit Rendezvous and Docking: The mission architecture will likely involve docking in lunar orbit, either for crew transfer or for combining various modules. Our SPADEX experiment and future tests will be vital here.

Radiation Protection and Life Support for Lunar Missions: The lunar environment presents harsher radiation challenges than low-Earth orbit. Developing enhanced radiation shielding and robust life support systems for longer lunar missions is a significant technological hurdle.

Astronaut Training for Lunar Environment: Training astronauts not only for spaceflight but also for lunar surface operations, including spacewalks (EVAs) and operating in reduced gravity, is a specialized field.

The Key Challenges for this mission include:

a) Advanced Propulsion Technology: Developing the high-thrust, efficient propulsion systems required for lunar trajectories, including potentially new generation cryogenic engines.

b) Re-entry and Recovery from Lunar Return Trajectories: The re-entry velocities from the Moon are much higher than from low-Earth orbit, requiring advanced heat shield materials and precise atmospheric entry control.

c) Lunar Surface Operations: Establishing capabilities for lunar surface exploration, including developing lunar rovers (if planned for human missions), habitats, and power generation systems.

d) Funding and Resource Allocation: The financial outlay for a human lunar mission is immense. Careful planning and consistent allocation will be necessary.

e) International Landscape: While we aim for an independent capability, exploring avenues for collaboration with other spacefaring nations on specific technologies or mission segments could be beneficial.

India’s Preparedness:

India, through ISRO, is remarkably prepared to realize this vision, built on decades of incremental progress and strategic successes:

Proven Launch Capabilities: Our GSLV and LVM3 launch vehicles are robust and have demonstrated their ability to launch significant payloads. The LVM3 is the workhorse for Gaganyaan.

Deep Space Mission Expertise: Missions like Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission, and especially Chandrayaan-3, have provided invaluable experience in deep space navigation, propulsion, lunar orbit operations, and soft landing technologies. Chandrayaan-3’s successful soft landing near the lunar south pole is a testament to our precision engineering.

Human Spaceflight Program (Gaganyaan): The Gaganyaan program is progressing steadily. We have successfully conducted the TV-D1 test flight validating the Crew Escape System, and further test vehicle missions (TV-D2, IADT-01) are in the pipeline. Significant progress has been made on the Human-Rated LVM3, the orbital module’s propulsion systems, ECLSS, and the Crew Escape System motors. Our ground communication network and recovery operations are also being finalized.

Indigenous Technology Base: ISRO’s philosophy of self-reliance has fostered a strong indigenous technology base across various domains, from propulsion to navigation and materials science. This minimizes dependence on external entities for critical technologies.

Growing Industrial Ecosystem: Post space sector reforms, the opening up of the space sector to private participation is catalyzing innovation and manufacturing, which will be crucial for scaling up production and support for these large-scale missions. Private entities are already contributing significantly.

Skilled Workforce: India possesses a vast pool of highly skilled scientists, engineers, and technicians who are passionate about space exploration. Our academic institutions are also increasingly contributing to space research.

Government Support: The strong political will and financial backing from the government are crucial enablers for these ambitious endeavors. The recent budget allocation demonstrates this commitment.

International Collaborations: We have established strong relationships with space agencies globally, including NASA (NISAR), CNES (TRISHNA) and JAXA (Lunar Polar Exploration Mission), and are open to further collaboration where it aligns with our strategic objectives. An Indian astronaut has also recently gained experience on the ISS through a collaboration with NASA and Axiom Space.