SYLLABUS
GS-3: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Context: Recently, two Indian aquanauts undertook deep-sea dives in the Atlantic Ocean aboard the French vessel Nautile as part of training for the Samudrayaan Project.
More on the News
• The mission was conducted as part of preparations for India’s Samudrayaan Project.
• Cdr (Retd) Jatinder Pal Singh successfully dived to a depth of 5,002 metres, while R. Ramesh reached 4,025 metres below sea level.
• The experience and operational insights gained from these dives will directly contribute to India’s deep-sea exploration capabilities.
Samudrayan Project
• The project is India’s first manned deep-sea mission which aims to send three humans to depths of 6,000 meters by 2027, under the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM).
• The project involves developing a crewed submersible named Matsya-6000 that can carry three aquanauts to depths of up to 6,000 metres in the Indian Ocean.
• The main goal is to explore and harness resources like polymetallic nodules rich in manganese, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements, while also studying deep-sea biodiversity and ecosystems.
• The project is being developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, with ISRO’s support in advanced fabrication technology.
Objectives of the Project
• Development of technologies for manned submersible, deep-sea mining and underwater vehicles and underwater robotics,
• Development of ocean climate change advisory services,
• Technological innovations for exploration and conservation of deep-sea biodiversity,
• Deep ocean survey and exploration (and research ship),
• Energy and freshwater from the ocean.
Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology.
Significance of the project
• Strategic: It places India among elite nations (US, Russia, China, Japan, France) with manned deep-sea exploration.
• Economic: Access to critical minerals (nickel, cobalt, rare earths) needed for batteries, EVs, and electronics.
• Technological: Promotes indigenous R&D in underwater robotics, metallurgy, and communication.
• Blue Economy: Supports India’s 11,000 km coastline and ocean-dependent economy.
Challenges to the project
• Extreme Pressure: 600 times sea-level pressure at 6,000 m; requires precision fabrication (even 0.2 mm deviation risks collapse).
• Material Constraints: Titanium alloy scarcity and limited global sharing.
• Communication: Acoustic systems vulnerable to water salinity and temperature variations.
• Health Concerns: Restricted food/water intake; physical endurance crucial.
Matsya 600
• It is a self-propelled manned submersible capable of transporting three individuals to depths of up to 6,000 meters beneath the ocean surface.
• The submersible has 12 hours of operational period and sustains up to 96 hours in emergency scenarios.
• This Human Occupied Vehicle (HOV), is a spherical titanium-alloy vessel.
• It is being developed through a collaboration between National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Ministry Earth Sciences and Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), ISRO .
