Matsya 6000: Features of Samudrayaan mission vehicle that will go 6 kms below sea explained
India's Matsya 6000 submersible, part of Samudrayaan mission, to study ocean resources and biodiversity at 6,000m depth.
India is now prepared to dive 6,000 metres beneath the ocean's surface following a successful mission to the Moon. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju recently shared details about the Matsya 6000 submersible, a key part of India's Samudrayaan mission. The mission aims to send three humans to a depth of six kilometers in a submersible to study deep-sea resources and biodiversity. Here's what you need to know about Matsya 6000:
Matsya 6000 features:
- A three-person submersible capable of reaching 6,000 meters underwater.
- Developed by Chennai's National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).
- Constructed with an 80mm-thick titanium alloy to withstand high underwater pressures.
- Can operate continuously for 12 to 16 hours with a 96-hour oxygen supply.
- Equipped with redundancy systems for safety and an ultra-short baseline acoustic positioning system (USBL) for tracking.
Mission objectives:
- Investigate chemosynthetic biodiversity in hydrothermal vents and methane seeps.
- Promote tourism and ocean literacy.
- Explore ocean depths for resources such as cobalt, copper, and manganese.
- Examine ocean biodiversity.
Project timeline:
- Trials for Matsya 6000 likely to occur in early 2024 in the Bay of Bengal.
- The Samudrayaan project, part of India's Rs 4,077-crore Deep Ocean Mission, aims for completion by 2026.
- India's initiative to play a leadership role in sustainable ocean exploration and resource development.
Significance:
- India's deep ocean exploration aligns with the 'blue economy' vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Focus on sustainable ocean resource utilization, economic growth, job creation, and ecosystem preservation.
- A critical effort to understand and conserve the ocean's role in supporting life on land.
Matsya 6000 is a cutting-edge submersible designed for India's Samudrayaan mission, which seeks to explore the deep ocean, study biodiversity, and harness resources while ensuring sustainability and ecosystem preservation.
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