ISRO-NIOT come together to make India's first manned submersible

Indian scientists are ready with a preliminary design for first manned submersible. This manned submersible is expected to be ready in five years at a cost of Rs 500 crore. This is being built by National Institute of Ocean Technology.

A team of scientists at ESSO-National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) is ready with a design for the country's first manned submersible that can accommodate a three-member crew.

It will be able to take scientists about six kilometres deep into the ocean to look for precious metals and lesser known life forms.

After the India prepare the vehicle, it will join an elite group of nations sending man underwater in a craft. This time only China, US, Russia, France and Japan have conducted manned deep-sea expeditions.

The design is made in this manner the craft will be lowered into the sea from a ship. It will have 3.2 diameter titanium sphere that will able to perform their task underwater for eight to 10 hours. Through the robotic arm, samples will collect from the seafloor.

Under the Union Ministry initiative Deep Sea Mission, India is conducting exploration for polymetallic nodules and polymetallic sulphides in certain regions of Indian Ocean on contract with the International Seabed Authority.

Now, scientists are thinking of making small similar looking spherical submersible in the next three years and send people about 500 m deep into the Indian Ocean.

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