Deep Ocean Mission: Indian aquanauts dive record 5,000 metres; milestone for undersea exploration

NEW DELHI: In a landmark achievement, India has efficiently despatched its aquanauts to depths of over 5,000 metres within the North Atlantic Ocean.The mission marked a significant step in direction of the nation’s Deep Ocean Mission, also referred to as Samudrayaan. The feat comes simply weeks after Shubhanshu Shukla grew to become the primary Indian to succeed in the International Space Station.

The expedition was carried out in collaboration with France and concerned two Indian aquanauts who accomplished separate deep dives within the French submersible Nautile earlier this month.

On 5 August, Raju Ramesh, a scientist on the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), descended 4,025 metres. A record-setting 5,002-metre dive by retired Navy Commander Jatinder Pal Singh the following day adopted this.Union Earth Sciences Minister Jitendra Singh stated, “We have an Indian going into space and an Indian going into the deep ocean almost simultaneously.” He referred to as it a part of India’s “double conquest” in underexplored frontiers, which he believes will contribute to the nation’s financial progress.The minister added that PM Narendra Modi has proven a robust curiosity within the Deep Ocean Mission and blue economic system.The Deep Ocean Mission, cleared by the Union Cabinet in 2021, covers crewed and uncrewed submersibles, deep-sea mining know-how, biodiversity analysis and ocean-based power initiatives. It goals to discover and utilise sources inside India’s Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf.

Matsya 6000

M Ravichandran, Secretary within the ministry of Earth sciences, stated the Deep Ocean Mission was carried out to achieve firsthand expertise earlier than India tries the identical with its personal submersible, Matsya 6000. “One of the verticals of the DOM aims to develop technology to harness non-living ocean resources and a submersible which can carry humans to the deepest parts of the ocean for exploration,” he stated.The Matsya 6000, prone to be prepared by December 2027, will carry three individuals to depths of 6,000 metres inside a titanium alloy sphere. It can have scientific devices, communication programs and security options with emergency endurance of as much as 96 hours.