DocM Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Since they're coming up on actual tests, and have significantly increased their budget, it seems time for their own thread. http://m.timesofindia.com/home/science/Gujarat-lab-making-life-support-system-sensors-for-Indias-space-mission/articleshow/38453383.cms Gujarat lab making life support system sensors for India?s space mission AHMEDABAD: The Ahmedabad-based Space Applications Centre (SAC) is playing a pivotal role in realizing India's dream of launching its own astronauts into the space. The SAC is developing sensors critical to life-support system in the capsule that will carry not one but two astronauts of Indian team on their independent journey into space and back. The recent Union budget that allocated Rs 171 crore for the GSLV Mark III rocket programme with the capability of carrying humans has fuelled the ambitious project. The SAC scientists are at critical stage of devising sensors in the capsule that will help sustain humans on board ? keeping track of their health, regulate flow of life-supporting gases like carbon dioxide released by humans, supply right amount of oxygen and maintain the right atmospheric pressure within capsule. It will also regulate presence of other gases like methane and nitrogen. "The sensors and life-supporting systems will play a pivotal role in India's manned missions into space in the future. The efficacy and reliability of these sensors and instruments over longer periods of time in space travel are vital for future missions," says director SAC, Isro, A S Kiran Kumar. A test run with a dummy capsule is scheduled over the next few months. Isro officials said that testing is significant to know endurance of the capsule while it gets launched in space and then returns to earth's atmosphere. It would also test the accuracy of the entire programme as the capsule would come down in Bay of Bengal. The decision for manned flights would be taken by the Union cabinet shortly, said officials. Size comparison (Dragon is V1. Dragon V2's aeroshell is larger) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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