Biotechnology Experiments for India's Upcoming Space Station

 

Introduction

- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) have recently signed an agreement to design and conduct biotechnology experiments for India's upcoming indigenous space station, known as Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS).

- The collaboration is part of the broader BIOE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) policy, which aims to stimulate ‘bio-manufacturing’ in India, with the objective of creating a bio-economy worth USD 300 billion by 2030.

 

Purpose of the ISRO-DBT Collaboration

- The ISRO-DBT collaboration aims to address the key challenges in space missions, such as the continuous availability of nutrients, food preservation, microgravity and radiation.

- The collaboration will help in conducting investigations related to health hazards in space like cancers, cataracts, bone and muscle loss.

 

Potential Experiments

- The agreement includes experiments like investigating the effects of weightlessness on muscle loss in astronauts, identifying algae species that could serve as nutrients or extend food preservation, exploring the processing of specific algae for jet fuel production and assessing the impact of radiation on health.

 

About Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS)

- BAS is India's proposed indigenous space station dedicated to scientific research.

- The station is set to be built in three phases, with the launch of the first module, BAS-1, anticipated in 2028, and full operation by 2035.

- Key features of the BAS include its orbit height of 400-450 kilometres, an estimated weight of 52 tonnes, facilities for astronauts to stay in orbit for 15-20 days, and the presence of various modules dedicated to crew command, habitat, propulsion, and docking.

- The BAS aims to foster innovation, promote international collaboration, and cater to scientific research needs including microgravity experiments and earth observation.

 

Other International Space Stations

- The longstanding International Space Station (ISS) has been operational since 1998, led by collaboration from the US, Canada, Russia, and Japan. Although, due to changing geopolitical dynamics and cost implications, the ISS is scheduled to be decommissioned by 2030.

- China has successfully launched and operated its own space station, Tiangong, since November 2022.

 

Recent Developments in India's Space Sector

- The space sector in India has seen prominent missions including Aditya L1, Chandrayaan 3, Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), and Gaganyaan Mission.

- Advancements have been made in launch vehicles, including GSLV Mark III, Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), and PSLV.

- ISRO has led several missions for international clients, such as the TeLEOS-2 Earth observation satellite for Singapore and the Amazonia-1 satellite for Brazil.

- Other key developments include the implementation of NavIC and Bhuvan projects for enhanced navigation and geospatial technology.