Gaganyaan Mission: India Delays Crewed Spaceflight, Plans Uncrewed Tests First

Gaganyaan Mission: India to Send 20 Fruit Flies to Space Before Astronauts – Here’s Why

India is gearing up for its ambitious Gaganyaan mission, which will send astronauts into space aboard an indigenous spacecraft. However, before human spaceflight, 20 fruit flies will be launched into space for a crucial experiment.

This might sound surprising, but these tiny creatures have been chosen because their genetic makeup is 77% similar to humans. The experiment, led by UAS-Dharwad and IIST Thiruvananthapuram, aims to study kidney stone formation in microgravity, helping scientists develop preventive measures for astronauts' health during space missions.

Why Fruit Flies? Understanding the Risk of Kidney Stones in Space

In space, astronauts face multiple health risks, including bone loss, dehydration, and urinary issues, all of which increase the chances of kidney stone formation. By studying fruit flies in space, researchers hope to gain insights into how kidney stones develop in microgravity and find ways to prevent them.

This experiment was chosen after intense competition among 75 agricultural universities in India. The findings will not only benefit the Gaganyaan mission but also provide valuable knowledge for future deep-space exploration beyond Earth’s orbit.

Gaganyaan: A Major Leap for India in Space Exploration

Led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the Gaganyaan mission will place India among an elite group of nations with human spaceflight capabilities. This project highlights India’s technological advancements and opens doors for future innovations and scientific experiments in space.

The mission will send a three-member crew into orbit, 400 km above Earth, for three days, before safely returning them to Earth with a splashdown in the Indian Ocean. While the exact launch date is yet to be finalized, if all goes according to plan, the mission could take off in 2025.

With groundbreaking experiments like the fruit fly study, ISRO is ensuring that India’s human spaceflight program is well-prepared for the challenges of space travel. This research could be a game-changer for astronaut health and pave the way for longer space missions in the future.