Relevance: GS III (Science & Technology – Space) | Source: The Indian Express

1. What is the Big News?

In February 2026, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a huge success. The four Indian astronauts of the Gaganyaan mission returned safely to Earth after spending three days in space.

• The Landing: The spacecraft gently landed (splashed down) in the Arabian Sea. The Indian Navy and Coast Guard quickly rescued the astronauts.
• Global Record: India is now the fourth country in the world (after the USA, Russia, and China) to send humans to space entirely on its own.

About the Gaganyaan Mission

The Gaganyaan project is India’s first homegrown human spaceflight programme. It is designed to prove that India has the technology to safely launch humans into space, keep them alive, and bring them back to Earth.

• The Objective: To launch a crew of astronauts to a Low Earth Orbit (400 km) for a 3-day journey.
• The Spacecraft: It consists of two main parts: the Crew Module (a safe, Earth-like cabin where the astronauts live and breathe) and the Service Module (which provides power and engine support).
• The Rocket: The heavy-duty Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) was specially upgraded with extra backup systems to make it “Human-Rated” (100% safe for human travel).
• Vyommitra (The Robot Test): Before risking human lives, the space agency tested the life-support systems by sending a female-looking robot named Vyommitra to space to ensure everything worked perfectly.

2. How Did They Come Back? (The Science)

Coming back to Earth is the most dangerous part of a space journey. Here is how ISRO did it safely:

• Applying the Brakes: The spacecraft fired its engines in the opposite direction. This slowed it down so that Earth’s gravity could pull it back.
• Fighting the Fire: When the spacecraft enters the Earth’s atmosphere, the rubbing of the air creates extreme heat (over 2,000°C). ISRO used a special “ablative” heat shield. This shield slowly burns and melts away, taking the extreme heat with it and keeping the astronauts cool inside.
• The Umbrella Landing: Once the spacecraft was closer to the sea, giant parachutes opened up. This slowed down the heavy capsule so it could land softly in the water.

3. Why Does India Need This?

• True Independence: We now have the technology to send our own people to space. We do not have to depend on foreign rockets anymore.
• Zero Gravity Science: In space, things become weightless. Scientists can use this environment to create new medicines and materials that are impossible to make on Earth.
• The Next Big Steps: Gaganyaan is just the beginning. This success gives India the confidence to build the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (Indian Space Station) by 2035 and land an Indian on the Moon by 2040.

UPSC Value Box

With reference to the Gaganyaan Mission, consider the following statements:

1. The spacecraft uses an ablative heat shield to protect the astronauts from extreme heat while coming back to Earth.
2. The Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) was specially “human-rated” for this mission.
3. With this success, India became the third country in the world to launch a human spaceflight on its own.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (b)