Samudrayaan mission explained: India to send humans 500m under sea

India is all set to send three explorers to a depth of 500 metres under the sea in an indigenously built vessel, Samudrayaan, this year. Engineers at the National Institute of Ocean Technology in Chennai have already designed the steel sphere that will house the aquanauts for their journey.

But, what is this Samudrayaan Mission all about? Here’s a ready reckoner:

Operation Samudrayaan, India’s Deep Sea Mission?

This project has been set up with a view to unlock the mysteries in the heart of the deep ocean for resources and develop deep sea technologies for sustainable use of ocean resources. Basically aimed at supporting the Blue Economy initiatives of the government of India with the ministry of earth sciences (MoES) being the nodal ministry to implement this multi-institutional ambitious mission. With this mission, India will be joining the elite club of nations such as the US, Russia, Japan, France, and China to develop niche technology and vehicles to carry out subsea activities.

“The mission proposes to explore the deep ocean similar to the space exploration started by ISRO about 35 years ago,” said the ministry of earth sciences when they had first unveiled the blueprint of the project.

The estimated cost of the project

The estimated cost of the mission will be Rs 4077 crore for a period of 5 years to be implemented in a phase-wise manner. The estimated cost for the first phase for the 3 years (2021-2024) would be Rs 2823.4 crore.

When was it launched

October 2021

What are the main components of the Deep Sea Mission?

There are six components to this mission.

Also read: India to join developed nations in ocean studies with Samudrayaan project

Development of a manned submersible

Firstly, a manned submersible will be developed to carry three people to a depth of 6,000 metres in the ocean. This submersible will have a suite of scientific sensors and tools to help in deep ocean exploration. Developed indigenously, MATSYA 6000, the manned submersible will have an endurance of 12 hours of operational period and 96 hours in case of an emergency.

It will help scientific personnel to observe and understand unexplored deep-sea areas by direct intervention. According the government, this niche technology shall facilitate to carry out deep ocean exploration of the non-living resources such as polymetallic manganese nodules, gas hydrates, hydro-thermal sulfides, and cobalt crusts, located at a depth between 1000 and 5500 meters.

To mine polymetallic nodules

An integrated mining system will be also developed for mining polymetallic nodules from 6,00 m depth in the central Indian Ocean, said a government press statement. Polymetallic nodules, also known as manganese nodules, are potato-shaped, largely porous nodules found in abundance carpeting the sea floor of world oceans in deep sea. Besides manganese and iron, they contain nickel, copper, cobalt, lead etc., which are of economic and strategic importance.

The exploration studies of minerals will pave way for the commercial exploitation in the near future, as and when commercial exploitation code is evolved by the International Seabed Authority, an UN organization. This component will help the Blue Economy priority area of exploring and harnessing of deep sea minerals and energy.

Why are polymetallic nodules important for India?

India has been allotted a site of 75,000 square kilometres in the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) by the UN International Sea Bed Authority for exploitation of polymetallic nodules (PMN). It is envisaged that 10 per cent of recovery of that large reserve can meet the energy requirement of India for the next 100 years, said the ministry of earth sciences.

It has been estimated that 380 million metric tonnes of polymetallic nodules are available at the bottom of the seas in the Central Indian Ocean. India’s Exclusive Economic Zone spreads over 2.2 million square kilometres and in the deep sea, lies “unexplored and unutilised.”

To study key climate variables

The second component of the project has to do with developing a suite of observation and models to understand and provide future projections of important climate variables. These Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services is meant to support the Blue Economy priority area of coastal tourism.

Explore deep-sea biodiversity

Thirdly, under the Samudrayaan project, technological innovations will be developed to explore and conserve deep-sea biodiversity. Studies on sustainable utilisation of deep sea bio-resources will be the main focus. The fourth component has to do with exploring multi-metal hydrothermal sulphides mineralisation along the Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges. The fifth will focus on developing an offshore Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) powered desalination plant which will work with tidal energy, and lastly, under the project, the ministry will establish an advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology.

Also read: The case for ocean optimism

How is the project relevant for India?

India has a 7,517 km long coastline, which is home to nine coastal states and 1,382 islands. Its three sides are surrounded by the oceans and around 30 cent of the nation’s  population live in coastal areas and coastal regions play a major factor in the country’s economy.

The mission will also boost the Central government’s vision of ‘New India’ that highlights the Blue Economy as one of the ten key aspects of growth.

Which other entities are involved in Samudrayaan?

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), IITM, and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will actively participate in this mission.

Samudrayaan runs into stormy weather

The government’s plan to send the Samudrayaan to 6,000 metres deep into the sea could be delayed due to difficulty in procuring the titanium sphere capable of withstanding pressure at those depths, said a PTI report, quoting an official on the sidelines of the Indian Science Congress.

A steel sphere can withstand pressure up to a depth of 500 metres, but will crumple as it cruises deeper, making titanium as the metal of choice.

“These are exclusive technologies and no country is ready to part with it. The Ukraine conflict has further aggravated the situation,” the official said without elaborating.
The Ukraine conflict has already pushed the timelines for the human spaceflight to the end of 2024 and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to carry out an uncrewed mission to test and validate technologies for the Gaganyaan mission this year.