Samudrayaan: Isro working on development of personnel sphere for deep-sea mission
Matsya-6000 is the submersible that is being developed as a manned vehicle to send three humans to a depth of over 5,000 meters below sea level. (Photo: NIOT)
The personnel sphere measures 2.26 metre in diameter and features an 80 millimeter-thick wall made from a titanium alloy, known for its superior strength and corrosion resistance. Engineered to withstand extreme pressures up to 600 bar at temperatures as low as -3C, this pressure hull can safely accommodate a three-member crew at great ocean depths.One of the biggest technical challenges was developing a reliable Electron Beam Welding (EBW) process capable of fusing thick (80-102 mm) titanium plates.The Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) Bengaluru took charge of augmenting its welding facility from a 15kW to a 40kW EBW capacity. Over 700 weld trials were conducted to optimise the process parameters, ensuring high quality and structural integrity.For quality assurance, Isro enhanced its X-ray radiography capability, one of the highest energy levels used in India, allowing detailed non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of the welded joints. Techniques such as Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD) and Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) were employed to detect microscopic defects, guaranteeing safety and reliability. Approval from third-party certification agencies for the welding procedures and product safety is underway.The successful welding and rigorous testing of a full-scale 7100 mm-long personnel sphere, welded over 32 minutes, marks a national first. This achievement positions India among a select few nations with the technological prowess to build deep-sea human habitats.With this critical component getting ready, the Samudrayaan mission moves closer to launching manned explorations of the deep Indian Ocean, promising advancements in marine research, resource utilisation, and underwater technology development.- EndsMust Watch
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
27 minutes ago
- The Print
‘Mars' in Ladakh—2 scientists enter space bubble to test human endurance for interplanetary missions
Bengaluru-based space tech company Protoplanet, along with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has developed the analogue station, called the Human Outer Planet Exploration (HOPE) station, with the aim of conducting 'critical research for future crewed interplanetary journeys', according to a statement by the firm. New Delhi: Aerospace engineer Rahul Mogalapalli and astrobiologist Yaman Akot have started a unique isolation mission in Ladakh's Tso Kar. The duo will spend the next 10 days in a first-of-its-kind space analogue site, which will test their physical and psychological endurance in interplanetary conditions. The site at Tso Kar, located at an altitude of over 14,500 feet, was chosen because of its terrain and environment, which closely mimics conditions on the Moon and Mars. 'The coming together of this site has taken over nine years of work,' the Bengaluru-based company said. An analogue research station is a site with conditions closest to a planet or planetary body with regard to the topography, environment, etc. These stations usually act as testing grounds for relevant technologies, help advance technology readiness levels (TRL) and engineering integration, and facilitate human studies, crew training and research around geological, geomorphological, habitability, and life detection. The similarity in conditions helps scientists replicate interplanetary mission experiments and train astronauts under specific conditions. Currently, there are 33 analogue research stations in the world. Some of the prominent ones are the BIOS-3 in Russia, which is a closed-loop biodome located at the Institute of Biophysics; HERA at the US' Johnson Space Centre, a two-storey, four-port habitat; SHEE in Europe, a self-deployable portable habitat for extreme conditions; and the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in the US' Utah, a private property developed for research with multiple observatories and an analogue habitat. Utah in the US is home to several Mars analogue sites, primarily because of its dry, arid terrain. In these centres, scientists get the opportunity to replicate conditions similar to the Red Planet, where technology is tested and crew members are trained in the 'closest conditions possible'. Also Read: ISRO, NASA's sharped-eyed NISAR satellite reaches orbit, countdown to science phase begins The pilot crew Mogalapalli and Akot are the first batch of scientists to undertake HOPE's pilot mission. They were selected from a pool of 135 applicants who had volunteered for the project. During their 10-day stay, they will be tested in isolated conditions designed to test and refine astronaut training for long-duration interplanetary missions. The outcome of their experience will be used to refine protocols for human spaceflights. To prepare for the pilot, both crew members had to undergo training in confined habitat simulations. They were also put through medical tests and check-ups to ensure they were medically fit to carry out the mission. Before the final mission, the duo were also part of a 15-day pre-mission endurance training. A senior ISRO official told ThePrint that such sites will be essential in advancing India's human spaceflight ambitions. 'We will be encouraging more private players to enter the field and develop infrastructure that can be used for advancing India's space missions. If you see, this is the same model that is followed by the US.' (Edited by Mannat Chugh) Also Read: How NASA's 10-minute flight to study the Sun may help unlock the mysteries of solar astrophysics
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
India targets 8 to 10 per cent share in the commercial satellite launch market, says ISRO chief
Thiruvananthapuram, The Indian space sector is aiming to achieve an 8 to 10 per cent share in the global commercial space market over the next 10 years, and for that, a lot of work needs to be done, ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan said here on Friday. In an exclusive interview with PTI Videos, Narayanan said India needs to improve infrastructure, industry-led development, and manufacturing capabilities. At present, India's share in the global commercial space market is less than 2 per cent. 'In the initial phase of our activities, we were not focusing on the commercial aspect. But today, we are in the commercial field,' Narayanan said. He said India's OneWeb India Mission helped improve the country's commercial credibility—a project indigenously developed due to geopolitical reasons following the Ukraine war. 'Using one rocket, we had to place 36 satellites into orbit. Achieving a difference of just a few centimetres in orbital placement is not an easy task. We accomplished it through a unique scheme, demonstrating a commercially successful mission. It surprised the entire international community,' he said. He added that India has so far carried out 14 commercial launches. 'A country that did not have satellite technology, launch vehicle technology, or application-oriented capability 50 years ago has now launched 433 satellites for 32 countries. So, we are in the game,' he said. Narayanan said ISRO would soon launch a 6,500-kg commercial satellite from the United States using its Mark III rocket, the last of three missions India is undertaking in coordination with NASA. India had successfully launched the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite—the costliest satellite launched so far—on July 30 using the Mark II F16 rocket. The ISRO chairman said that since the Prime Minister rolled out space sector reforms to encourage public-private partnerships, capacity building has been steadily increasing. 'Ten years ago, we hardly had one startup working in the space area. Today, we have over 300 startups operating in the sector,' Narayanan said. He noted that demand for space-based services has been rising across sectors. 'For example, earlier, if someone approached a bank for an agricultural loan, officials had to physically verify the land and the crops being cultivated. Now, they can assess the data in real time. Similarly, in the event of a drought, real-time assessments can be done from indoors, instead of through physical surveys. 'A lot of real-time data processing is happening, and data with up to five-centimetre resolution is available free of cost. People can process this data and use it for multiple purposes,' he added. He said other countries are now approaching India for their space requirements, recognizing the country's technological advancements. 'Don't think India is the India of 1947. Today, we are a spacefaring, dynamic nation. For example, on the 30th of last month, we launched NASA's NISAR satellite, worth ₹ 10,300 crore. NASA came to India for the launch. That shows our technological capability, advancement, and the precision with which our people work. This is what's motivating other countries to come to us,' he said. When asked whether ongoing trade restrictions and tariff policies under the Trump administration might affect space collaboration between India and the U S, Narayanan said the subject is beyond his "domain of expertise". 'These two things—politics and science—have to be separated. I am a technocrat, and that question is beyond my domain,' he said. However, the ISRO chief added, 'Technologically, we are in an advanced state. So whatever contracts we have signed, we are going to execute. That is all I can comment on.' Welcoming the Public-Private Partnership model in the Indian space sector, Narayanan said ISRO alone cannot meet growing market demand, and the private sector has a significant role to play. 'When I joined ISRO, there used to be one launch every three years. This year, we plan to have one launch every month. Now, you may ask why we need so many launches. So far, we have developed 132 satellites, of which 55 are currently in orbit, serving the people of this country. 'These services ensure national safety and security. Do you know how many satellites are required for that? Two years ago, our counterparts deployed 100 satellites in a single year. The demand for satellite technology is enormous,' Narayanan said. He projected that in another three years, ISRO may need to have three times the current number of satellites in orbit to meet demand. 'ISRO alone cannot do this. It is a government organisation. Over the last 10 years, our manpower has grown by less than five per cent. That's why the private sector needs to step in, in a big way,' he said. He concluded by stating that, based on current demand, India should be launching three rockets per month to meet the country's requirements. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Economic Times
India's space achievements win global admiration, says ISRO chief
Thiruvananthapuram, India's space technology has progressed to a level that commands the admiration of even the world's leading powers, ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan said here on Friday. He was speaking after inaugurating a conclave on "New Vistas in Critical Minerals and Materials" organised by the CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), here as part of its Golden Jubilee year. Narayanan lauded India's remarkable journey in space technology over the past five decades."India's space technology has advanced to such an extent that even leading global powers view it with admiration," he was quoted as saying in an official said that indigenous developments in high-strength stainless steel, advanced composites with low thermal conductivity, and other strategic materials signify the nation's increasing self-reliance. Narayanan called for a collaborative effort between CSIR and ISRO under the National Critical Minerals Mission to drive innovation and achieve technological sovereignty in the field of advanced stated that as the nation completes 77 years of independence, it has achieved significant progress in all sectors, including science and ISRO chairman noted that CSIR has made remarkable contributions to this progress. He praised CSIR's initiatives, ranging from ensuring food security to producing useful materials from remarked that the July 30 launch of NISAR, a collaborative satellite by ISRO and NASA, was a "historic milestone".He said it was "Indian knowledge and Indian experts" who were behind the launch vehicle, a GSLV the country began its space mission with launch rockets gifted by the US, today, India is progressing with equal partnership alongside developed nations, he inaugural session was presided over by Dr C Anandharamakrishnan, Director, CSIR-NIIST. He highlighted the importance of making the country's materials and minerals imports to zero. Eminent scientists, including Dr Ramanuj Narayan (Director, CSIR-IMMT, Bhubaneswar), Dr Sandeep Ghosh Chaudhary (Director, CSIR-NML), Prof U Kamachi Mudali, and Dr Anupam Agnihotri, offered their felicitations and shared insights on the future of critical mineral resources and sustainable material technologies, the release said.
