Samudrayaan Project – India’s First Human-Crewed Deep-Sea Mission

Overview:

Initiated by: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) under the Deep Ocean Mission.
Objective: Explore deep-sea biodiversity, mineral resources, and advance ocean technology to support India’s Blue Economy.
Submersible Used: MATSYA 6000 – a specially designed human-occupied vehicle (HOV).
Depth Target: 6,000 metres (≈3.7 miles).
Crew Capacity: 3 scientists.
Launch Timeline: Stepwise trials begin with 500 m tests in 2025; full mission expected by end of 2026.

Manned Deep-Sea Exploration: Safely transport crew to extreme ocean depths using MATSYA 6000.
Resource Survey: Explore polymetallic nodules rich in cobalt, nickel, manganese, and copper in the Central Indian Ocean Basin (75,000 sq km allocated to India).
Marine Biodiversity Research: Study deep-sea flora and fauna, aiding conservation and scientific knowledge.
Technological Advancement: Develop indigenous deep-sea engineering solutions, underwater robotics, and ocean observation technologies.
Blue Economy Support: Promote sustainable use of ocean resources including mining, fisheries, and potential deep-sea tourism.

Structure: 2.1–2.26 m diameter titanium alloy personnel sphere (80 mm thick, withstands >600 bar pressure).
Weight: 25 tonnes (4th generation vehicle).
Life Support: Human Support and Safety System (HSSS) – 12 hours operational, 96 hours emergency endurance.
Navigation & Communication: Acoustic positioning system, underwater acoustic telephone; robotic arms for sample collection; high-resolution cameras.
Mobility: Ballast system and thrusters for controlled descent, ascent, and maneuvering.
Power: High-density Lithium-Polymer batteries for propulsion and operations.

Titanium Hull Welding: Achieved critical high-penetration welds for safety at extreme pressures.
Indigenous Collaboration: Developed jointly by NIOT, ISRO, DRDO, and Indian industry partners.
Training: Indian scientists trained on French submersible NAUTILE in the Atlantic Ocean for operational experience at 5,000 m depth.

Allocated Budget: ₹600 crore (part of the ₹3,649.8 crore allocation for MoES in 2025–26).
Purpose: Development of manned submersible, deep-sea mining systems, bioresource utilization, ocean survey technologies, and marine stations.

Positions India among a select group of nations capable of manned deep-sea exploration.
Unlocks access to strategic oceanic mineral resources for electronics and energy sectors.
Boosts scientific research, oceanography, climate study, and future marine tourism potential.
Supports sustainable development of the Blue Economy.

Updated - May 13, 2025 08:37 pm | HT