DRDO to be part of ISRO’s first manned space mission
Sunday May 20 2007 11:22 IST
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BANGALORE: The life sciences laboratories under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) may play a crucial role in India’s first manned space mission.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has agreed in principle to let these labs participate in the mission, Dr W Selvamurthy, DRDO Chief Controller (Research and Development), Life Sciences, told this website's newspaper.
He said DRDO had made a written request to ISRO to participate in the manned space mission which India is aiming to undertake between 2015-2020.
“Many of the technologies and life-supporting systems that we have developed for the armed forces are applicable to manned space missions after adaptation,” he said.
“ISRO deals with the ergonomic aspects of the space missions, but when it comes to manned space mission our technologies would help sustain the lives of the astronauts in space capsule.”
Selvamurthy said the nine labs which are conducting research through a Rs 64-crore annual budget, had convincingly met the needs of the armed forces as well as social obligations towards the civilian sector, and is now prepared to participate in the challenging first manned space mission.
The smart vest of Defence Bio-engineering and Electro-medical Laboratory (DEBEL) can enable physiological monitoring of the astronauts. This system has integrated sensors in the fabric which relay key health parameters back to a land-based control room.
An adapted version of the ergonomic layout of the futuristic infantry combat vehicle ‘ABHAY’ could be relevant to designing interiors of a manned space capsule to ensure a convenient working environment and work space for the astronauts, DRDO scientists said.
They said astronauts could use the submarine escape set developed by DEBEL consisting of a hydro suit and breathing apparatus, while the manned space capsule splashes down at sea on their return.
Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences’ (DIPAS) solid state- cooling garment for tank crews, could be adapted for astronauts to be used in emergencies such as the failure of the space capsule’s interior cooling system, scientists said.
They said Mysore-based DFRL can adapt pack rations with quality assurance methods, and preservation and packaging methods for long distance transportation of perishable products in space.
The DRDO’s nine life sciences laboratories
Defence Agricultural Research Laboratory (DARL), Pithoragarh;
Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Lab (DEBEL), Bangalore
Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), Mysore
Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Delhi
Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR), Delhi
Defence Research & Development Establishment (DRDE), Gwalior
Defence Research Laboratory (DRL), Tezpur
Field Research Laboratory (FRL), Leh; and
Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), Delhi
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