Air Force begins screening astronauts for maiden human space flight

[RPK]

Air Force begins screening astronauts for maiden human space flight - Bangalore - DNA


The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM), which would be entrusted with the crucial role of screening and selecting the astronauts for the country’s maiden human space flight mission, has already initiated the ground work by developing state-of-the-art laboratories.

The Bangalore-based institute, which was an integral part of the Indo-Soviet manned space flight in the 1980’s, has developed various laboratories that can be used for screening potential astronauts.The institute also played a role in the medical monitoring team of India’s only cosmonaut, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma.

The department of space and environment physiology has developed three laboratories, comprising the thermal chamber, micro gravity simulation, and lower body negative pressure (LBNP).

At the thermal chamber, temperature can be simulated to very high and low temperatures, which the astronauts could encounter during the mission. The space craft would rotate around the earth about 16 times and the astronauts would be exposed to varying temperatures.

This chamber would simulate various temperatures and get them accustomed. Likewise, at another laboratory, the effects of microgravity can be simulated, which cannot be created normally on Earth.

A high-performance human centrifuge, which can simulate various G-force levels, will also be housed in the institute.

 

[trident2010]

It is still too premature to select astronauts. We are atleast decade away before producing human worthy launch vehicle. Screening astronauts from now is little too early in my opinion.

 

[S10]

It is still too premature to select astronauts. We are atleast decade away before producing human worthy launch vehicle. Screening astronauts from now is little too early in my opinion.

China started its screenings in the 1980's, eventhough the first man was not sent until 2003. Before the first man, there were two batches that were trained before him. You discover problems throughout training and correct them along the way.

 

[MrIndianSikh]

we should consult Russia for astronaut training to be sure all parameters are set and met. picking a person to be in the space vehicle is easy but preparing him/her to withstand the dangers of outer space is another. i hope ISRO and gov't is going step by step on this we do not want a tragedy like Columbia to occur for us.

 

[illuminatidinesh]

China started its screenings in the 1980's, eventhough the first man was not sent until 2003. Before the first man, there were two batches that were trained before him. You discover problems throughout training and correct them along the way.

Hmm that was very thoughtful of them..... Do U think still we need that many years ?

 

[CorporateAffairs]

Think we are way behind human space mission

 

[S10]

Hmm that was very thoughtful of them..... Do U think still we need that many years ?

Never hurts to start early.

 

[The HBS Guy]

It is still too premature to select astronauts. We are atleast decade away before producing human worthy launch vehicle. Screening astronauts from now is little too early in my opinion.

A lot goes into making an astronaut including an unbelievable amount of training.

In fact, I wonder if we have not started a bit late..

 

[jdme]

It takes decades to create decent infrastructure. Early is better especially for India.