ESA and ISRO to discuss human space flight, lunar exploration in Paris meet, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are holding discussions at the International Space Summit in Paris.
• The talks are focused on enhancing cooperation in human spaceflight and lunar exploration.
• ESA Director-General Josef Aschbacher and ISRO Chairperson V. Narayanan are leading these discussions.
• A Technical Implementing Plan (TIP) for ground tracking support for India's Gaganyaan missions has already been signed between the two agencies.
• Both agencies are also exploring potential collaboration for India's Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM).

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Detailed Insights:

• The International Space Summit in Paris began on September 9, bringing together high-level delegations from various space agencies.
• The Gaganyaan project aims to demonstrate India's human spaceflight capability by launching a three-member crew into a 400 km orbit for a three-day mission, with a planned splashdown in Indian sea waters.
• India is actively developing the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, a planned modular space station designed for long-term scientific research in Low Earth Orbit.
• The Bharatiya Antariksh Station is envisioned to orbit at an altitude of 400-450 km and will allow Indian astronauts to stay in space for extended durations.
• India's maiden mission to Venus, the Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM) or Shukrayaan, has been approved by the Union Cabinet with an estimated cost of ₹1,236 crore.
• The VOM is scheduled for launch on March 29, 2028, utilizing the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3), and is expected to arrive at Venus on July 19, 2028.
• The LVM-3 is ISRO's heavy-lift launch vehicle, capable of launching significant payloads into various orbits and is being human-rated for the Gaganyaan mission.
• The signed TIP ensures continuous data flow and communication support from ESA's ground stations for the Gaganyaan orbital module's monitoring and operations.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Gaganyaan: India's first human spaceflight program, aiming to send a crew of three astronauts to Low Earth Orbit.
• Bharatiya Antariksh Station: India's planned indigenous modular space station for sustained human presence and scientific research in Low Earth Orbit.
• Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM): India's upcoming interplanetary mission to Venus, also known as Shukrayaan, to study its atmosphere and surface.
• Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3): ISRO's three-stage heavy-lift launch vehicle, designated for both satellite launches and human spaceflight missions.
• Technical Implementing Plan (TIP): A formal agreement outlining specific technical cooperation and support between space agencies for mission operations.