Astronaut-designate Group Captain Prashant Nair, who is being trained for the Gaganyaan mission along with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, has called upon Indian startups to develop a space toilet, emphasizing the global need for further research in this area.
Space Toilet: A Critical Need
Speaking at the DefSpace symposium here on Friday, Nair, nicknamed 'Papa', highlighted that Russia is the only country with an effective space toilet. Even the United States relied on Russian technology for toilet systems on the International Space Station (ISS). Notably, NASA's Artemis II mission faced a malfunction in its universal waste management system shortly after launch this month.
Fearless Approach to Space
When asked about anxiety regarding Gaganyaan, India's first manned mission, Group Captain Nair, an experienced IAF pilot-turned-astronaut, stated, "I love danger. When I flew Sukhois, I used to fly at max height and think 'can I fly even higher'. Now, I am getting an opportunity to be part of Gaganyaan and go to space. I want to feel eternal peace in space. We are star material and we will be part of it one day. So, why fear?"
Mission Timeline and Training
Speaking to TOI, Group Captain Nair said, "The first manned mission with a humanoid (Vyommitra) is expected this year itself. Our manned mission is expected by 2026-end or in 2027." Regarding training to avoid space debris, he noted that it will be part of the mission, but ISRO has not yet provided details. He added that for the Axiom mission preparation, he and Shukla were trained by NASA on maneuvering the spaceship away from debris.
World's Growing Interest in Gaganyaan
At the symposium, Group Captain Shukla remarked, "Earlier, the world was not taking us seriously. But when we launched three Chandrayaan missions and landed on the south pole side of the Moon, the world started taking us seriously. Now, the surprise element is gone. Countries want to join our Gaganyaan programme. Being a manned mission, world expectations have also increased from Gaganyaan, so is our responsibilities. So, lots of things have to be done as this is India's first mission."
Shukla added, "ISRO has developed a lot of key technologies indigenously for the mission and we have full trust on our scientists for this mission."
