Gaganyaan crew module design for re-entry survival and stability
India's maiden crewed space mission, Gaganyaan, involves an orbital module comprising a crew module and a service module. The crew module is designed to survive the intense thermo-structural loads of re-entry and safely splash down. Engineers prioritize internal volume, aerodynamic lift/drag management, and stability. A sphere-cone configuration is chosen for its aerodynamic stability and ability to manage g-forces during descent. Managing dynamic instability during re-entry, especially at transonic speeds, is crucial and is achieved through control thrusters or parachute deployment to prevent uncontrolled oscillations.
Key Points
- Gaganyaan is India's first crewed space mission, with astronauts onboard the Orbital Module (OM).
- The OM consists of a crew module (habitat) and a service module (on-orbit support), which separate during descent.
- The crew module is specifically designed to withstand intense re-entry loads and ensure a safe splashdown.
- A sphere-cone configuration is chosen for the crew module to provide aerodynamic stability and manage g-forces.
- Dynamic instability during re-entry is managed using control thrusters or parachutes to prevent dangerous oscillations.
Exam Facts
- Gaganyaan is India's maiden crewed space mission.
- The launch vehicle is Human-rated Launch Vehicle Mark (HLVM) 3.
- The Orbital Module (OM) comprises the crew module and service module.
- The crew module has a sphere-cone configuration.
- Unnikrishnan Nair S. is a former Director of VSSC and IIST, and Founding Director of HSFC.
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