Editorial 1: Samudrayaan: Indian Aquanauts' exploration of the deep.
Context:
Recently two Indian “aquanauts” travelled deep into the Atlantic Ocean aboard the French vessel, Nautile. This will aid India’s Samudrayaan Project, which aims to send three humans to the depths of 6000 meters by 2027.
Background of the Project:
- With its long coastline of about 11000km, Indian government has long pushed for blue economy which aims to harness the ocean resources for economic growth.
- The deep ocean consist the unexplored minerals, fuels and biodiversity resources. Modern telecommunications require the undersea cables, which are laid on ocean floor.
- Currently only five countries have deep sea exploration capabilities namely, US, Russia, China, France, and Japan.
- India has launched Samudrayaan project as a part of Deep Sea mission approved by the cabinet in 2021.
About Deep Sea Mission:
- This mission was launched by Ministry of Earth Sciences at the estimated cost of Rs.4, 077 for the period of five years.
- It aims to develop technologies for deep sea mining and underwater vehicle, including crewed submersible.
- It aims to enhance the ocean climate change advisory service, with observations and models for future climate projections.
- Conduct Deep ocean surveys, mainly to look for Poly-Metallic Nodules. These nodules comprise layers of iron and manganese hydroxides and are found on the ocean floor. It contains materials such as nickel rare earths and cobalt.
- Develop technologies to derive energy and fresh water from ocean.
- It aims to establish an advanced marine station for building capacities in ocean biology and engineering.
Deep Ocean Submersible Vehicle MATSYA -6000:
- It is developed by National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT). It will take the aquanauts into the deep ocean.
- Designed like a fish, it will comprise a “personnel sphere” with diameter of 2.1 meters to house the humans. The vehicle will be capable of sustaining three humans for 12-hour missions. In case of emergencies, system aboard can sustain aquanauts for 96 hours.
- Initially, a steel sphere will be used to carry humans to the depth of 500 meters. However, steel is not strong enough to bear the atmospheric pressure at 6000 meters under the sea. The actual personnel sphere will be made of a titanium alloy.
Challenges of Deep Sea exploration:
- Vessel development: A vehicle needs to be developed which must be capable of sustaining life in deep sea. A titanium alloy with 80mm thickness is chosen due to its strength. Titanium is rare metal with limited supply. Also the thickness of 80mm needs to be the same across the sphere. Even 0.2mm deviation could lead to collapse of vehicle under such intense pressures.
- Maintaining Environment: The oxygen and carbon dioxide levels need to regulate in the vehicle as aquanauts will be restricted to personnel sphere. Scrubbers will be used to absorb harmful gases. Also the packed rebreathers will recirculate exhaled air after removing carbon dioxide using the mechanisms similar to deep sea-divers.
- Aquanaut health: Aquanaut health must be ensured as they require operating in stressed environment where ocean pressure is significantly high compared to atmospheric pressure. They may not be able to eat or drink a lot during the mission as they cannot access washroom.
- Acoustic Phone: Radio waves, which are used in normal life, cannot be used in deep-sea communication. Acoustic phone use information-laden sound waves to a receiver placed just underneath the surface of the water.
Way Forward:
India has already developed the indigenous acoustic phone. Now, this deep underwater exploration by Indian aquanauts will provide information for the development of MATSYA-6000. India should collaborate with countries having deep sea exploration capabilities to harness ocean resources. Deep sea exploration will boost the blue economy.