Gaganyaan-Bharat Ki Antariksh Udaan Review: The discovery+ documentary on the Gaganyaan Mission is partly engaging

The documentary traces the journey of India’s maiden manned space mission.

Gaganyaan

Story: Gaganyaan-Bharat Ki Antariksh Udaan is a documentary that talks about India’s maiden manned space mission, Gaganyaan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi first spoke about the project during his Independence Day address in 2018. Since then, scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have conducted several tests and experiments to carry out a successful launch. ISRO now plans to launch the mission in 2023.

Review: Gaganyaan is an ambitious mission of the ISRO that aims to send Indian astronauts to space. If successful, India will become the fourth country in the world, after the USA, Russia, and China, to launch a human spaceflight mission. A documentary on the subject is sure to pique the interest of the viewers. But its success lies in capitalising on the interest and keeping the audience glued to the screens throughout its entirety. Gaganyaan – Bharat ki Antariksh Udaan attempts to, but is engaging only in parts.

The discovery+ documentary traces the journey of the country’s maiden manned space mission, from the initial stages of developing the cryogenic engine to the final preparations ahead of the much-awaited launch in 2023. Indian-American astronaut and US Navy member Sunita Williams, Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to go to space, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kotov have been interviewed for the documentary along with other ISRO scientists and experts. Backed by video clips, 3D graphics and testimonies, the documentary delves deeper into what goes behind the scenes, the challenges that may come in the way, and what the mission means to India.

The first half of the documentary focuses on the development of the cryogenic engine and the different levels of test launches that were carried out by the ISRO in the past few years. Williams and Sharma give insights into the precautions taken by astronauts, the changes a human body undergoes during spaceflight, and the importance of mental readiness. The documentary also delves into past tragedies —including the 1986 Challenger disaster which resulted in the death of all seven crew members 73 seconds after its launch and the space shuttle Columbia that disintegrated while re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, leading to the death of Indian-American astronaut Kalpana Chawla and six others in 2003.

Four Indian Air Force pilots have been selected for the Gaganyaan Mission whose identities remain confidential. We are told that they undergo rigorous training sessions at various centres, including the Yuri Gagarin Research & Test Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia.

The documentary, produced by Miditech Studios, shares several interesting facts related to the Ganganyaan Mission and space travel in general. But an engaging narrative structure would have made it more compelling to neutral viewers, especially those who are not science or space enthusiasts. There is an overload of information and the graphical representations lack visual appeal. Additionally, the background music overpowers the content of the video on several occasions, significantly hampering the viewing experience.

Verdict: Though it touches upon many interesting facts, the documentary is not entirely successful in drawing the viewers’ attention. However, it might work well with space enthusiasts.

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