Russia enterprise ‘Zvezda starts manufacturing space suits for Gaganyaan astronauts

Moscow, September 08: Gearing up for India's first manned space mission 'Gaganyaan', Research, Development & Production Enterprise, 'Zvezda' under the contract of Glavkosmos started manufacturing personal flight equipment spacesuits for the Indian cosmonauts undergoing training in Russia.

 

 

 

The spacesuits which will be worn by Indian cosmonauts during the Gaganyaan mission. Zvezda is working with the Human Spaceflight Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for India's most ambitious project.

 

"On September 3, Indian cosmonauts who have been training for spaceflight in Russia under the contract of Glavkosmos visited Zvezda, where their anthropometric parameters were measured for the subsequent production of spacesuits. The contract also provides for the production of individual seats and custom-made couch liners," said CEO of Glavkosmos Dmitry Loskutov.

 

 

The contract for the production and delivery of individual equipment kits for Indian cosmonauts was signed by Glavkosmos and the Human Spaceflight Centre of ISRO on March 11, 2020. Indian cosmonauts have been training in Russia since February 10, 2020. Glavkosmos, JSC is a subsidiary of the State Space Corporation Roscosmos. The main task of the company is to promote the achievements of the Russian rocket and space industry to world markets and manage complex international projects.

 

 

Moreover, four Indian Air Force fighter pilots are currently under training in Moscow and are likely to be potential candidates for the Gaganyaan project. The contract for the training of Indian astronauts between Glavkosmos and the Human Spaceflight Center of ISRO was signed on June 27, 2019, and their training in Russia started on February 10, 2020. However, it had been put on hold as the Coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc across the countries. Meanwhile, the training process resumed in May.

 

Gaganyaan project is the first mission India is planning to execute by sending astronauts in space. The spacecraft is being designed to carry three people, and a planned upgraded version will be equipped with rendezvous and docking capability. In its maiden crewed mission, ISRO's largely autonomous 3.7-tonne (8,200 lb) capsule will orbit the Earth at 400 km (250 mi) altitude for up to seven days with a two or three-person crew on board.

 

The crewed vehicle is planned to be launched on ISRO's GSLV Mk III. The Rs 10,000-crore ambitious project is expected to be launched in 2022, the year of the 75th anniversary of India's Independence. However, the ISRO has indicated that it may be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown induced by it.