QUESTION 7
GS3
10 marks
India has achieved remarkable successes in unmanned space missions including the Chandrayaan and Mars Orbitter Mission, but has not ventured into manned space missions. What are the main obstacles to launching a manned space mission, both in terms of technology and logistics? Examine critically.
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
Critically examine the technological and logistical hurdles to an Indian human spaceflight.
Examine criticallyAnswer exactly what the question asks.
Demand-wise check
- 1Technology: human-rated launch vehicle, crew escape system, life support (ECLSS), re-entry thermal protection, orbital module, docking≈30 words
- 2Logistics: astronaut selection and training, sea recovery, tracking network, medical support, high cost and risk tolerance≈30 words
- 3Critical view: ISRO has built blocks (re-entry experiments, crew escape test) and Gaganyaan is underway; delays reflect safety priorities≈30 words
- 4Way forward: Bharatiya Antariksh Station, international cooperation≈30 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
AchievementsTechnological obstaclesLogistical obstaclesProgress so farCritical assessmentConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Not covering both technology and logistics
- Ignoring Gaganyaan progress
Draw this
- Flow of a crewed mission: launch → orbit → re-entry → recovery, marking each challenge
Value addition
- TestGaganyaan TV-D1 (October 2023) tested the crew escape system.ISRO, 2023
- MissionGroup Captain Shubhanshu Shukla flew to the ISS on Axiom-4 (2025), gaining experience for Gaganyaan.ISRO/Axiom, 2025
- TestCrew module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE) flew on GSLV Mk III in December 2014.ISRO, 2014
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Mayank Purohit · AIR 33 · Page 7 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Aniket Ranjan · AIR 48 · Page 35 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 15 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 7 minutes, then get it checked.