India's first manned space flight?
VerifiedAnswer: Gaganyaan
Explanation:
Gaganyaan is India's ambitious human spaceflight program that will make India the fourth country in the world to independently send humans to space after Russia, the United States, and China. The word "Gaganyaan" comes from Sanskrit, where "Gagan" means sky or space and "Yaan" means vehicle, literally translating to "sky vehicle" or "space vehicle."
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been developing this program since 2004, with the official announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech in 2018. The mission aims to send a crew of three astronauts (called "Gagannauts" or "Vyomanauts" in Indian terminology) to Low Earth Orbit for a period of three to seven days.
Key features of the Gaganyaan mission include: • A crew module that can accommodate three crew members • Service module for orbital maneuvering and power supply • Crew escape system for emergency situations • Environmental control and life support systems • Advanced heat shield technology for safe re-entry
The spacecraft will be launched using India's proven GSLV Mk III rocket, also known as LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3), which has been specially human-rated for this mission. Before sending humans to space, ISRO is conducting several unmanned test flights to ensure the safety and reliability of all systems.
The astronauts for this mission have been selected and are undergoing rigorous training, including sessions in Russia to gain experience with space operations. The program represents a significant milestone in India's space capabilities and will enhance the country's position as a major space-faring nation. Once successful, Gaganyaan will open doors for future Indian missions including lunar expeditions and space station operations.
