The decision for Indian Human Spaceflight programme - Political perspectives, national relevance and technological challenges

Rao, MK and Sridhara Murthi, KR and Prasad, MYS (2017) The decision for Indian Human Spaceflight programme - Political perspectives, national relevance and technological challenges. In: 68th International Astronautical Congress: Unlocking Imagination, Fostering Innovation and Strengthening Security, IAC 2017, 25 - 29 September 2017, Adelaide, pp. 5217-5227.

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Abstract

In recent times, debate is intense for an Indian Human Space flight programme. An assessment of the challenges in the development of a human space flight transport system has been studied by India - centring on development of indigenous launch capability for a two-member crew to low earth orbit and return safely to predetermined destination on earth. However, India has yet to take a decision for a human space flight programme. At National Institute for Advanced Studies (NIAS), we have looked into the decision-process that could lead to the crucial decision. We feel that establishing a political perspective for commitment, building a national consensus and also addressing the technological challenges are important steps. Our paper addresses these in a holistic manner: • a critical factor of engagements at political level to obtain commitment for long term implications - of almost 20-30 years, needs to be initiated. The democratic, multi-party framework of India - which has to deal with aspirations of Indian society will also have to decide on the long-term development of Indian human space flight programme. It will be a critical exercise to build the political perspectives. • consider the financial implications of a long-term human space-flight programme development - not just the one-time investments required for demonstrating national capability BUT also for continued human space flight pursuit with national gain. The assessment of returns and benefits has to be clearly articulated. • key technological challenges - crew module design, environmental control and life support system, mission management with human in-loop, crew escape system, launch facilities, astronaut training etc. We also feel that strategic options are important - in terms of indigenous technology development cycles, technology acquisition, collaborative synergies at international level or even alignment/competing with growing global private initiatives in human space-flight programme. The papers outlines the above and identifies some key parameters that would determine decision and goals for India to pursue human space flight - including, attraction for long term commitments and deepening investments at the cost of competing priorities, articulation of economic outcomes, apportionment of benefits across diverse political interests and time-frames, various risk dimensions and ascertainment of public perceptions, impact on social objectives, international cooperation and positioning, achieving high technological excellence in multiple sectors. The paper finally would outline the path that still needs to be pursued for the national decision.

Item Type:	Conference Paper
Publication:	Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC
Publisher:	International Astronautical Federation, IAF
Additional Information:	The copyright for this article belongs to International Astronautical Federation, IAF.
Keywords:	Environmental management; Environmental technology; International cooperation; Life support systems (spacecraft); Manned space flight; Orbits; Risk perception; Technology transfer, Decision Perspective; Environmental control and life support system; Financial implications; Human spaceflights; Indian Space; Space policy; Technological challenges; Technology acquisitions, Earth (planet)
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Aerospace Engineering(Formerly Aeronautical Engineering)
Date Deposited:	28 Jul 2022 09:46
Last Modified:	28 Jul 2022 09:46
URI:	https://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/74663

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