Matsya-6000 submersible's 500-metre trial dive to begin in 2027

The first 500-metre trial dive of the deep-ocean submersible 'Matsya-6000', being developed under India's ambitious 'Samudrayaan Project', will be conducted in early 2027. Srinivas Kumar Tummala, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), shared this information in a conversation with 'The Hindu'. Speaking during the 92nd annual meeting of the Indian Academy of Sciences organised at the National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS) in Thiruvananthapuram, he stated that the trial dive is planned for January or February 2027. This test will prove to be a decisive step towards India's goal of sending Matsya-6000 to a depth of 6,000 metres.

According to Dr. Tummala, the Bay of Bengal has been selected for this trial dive. The responsibility for this project lies with the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Currently, two pilots or 'aquanauts' from NIOT are undergoing special training for this mission. In addition to the two pilots, one scientist may also be included in this dive. The construction of Matsya-6000 is being carried out in phases, with the 500-metre depth test being the first phase. Recently, several weight tests of this submersible were successfully completed.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has played a significant role in the design and development of this submersible. A titanium hull with a diameter of 2.1 metres is being constructed in collaboration with ISRO. Dr. Tummala noted that very few countries in the world have the capability to manufacture a titanium sphere of 2.1 metres in diameter, and ISRO's experience is proving to be very useful. The Matsya-6000 project is extremely challenging, as the pressure at a depth of 6,000 metres is approximately 600 bar. Therefore, all systems must be designed to withstand pressures of 700 to 750 bar. Additionally, state-of-the-art systems to sustain human life within the submersible are also being developed.

There are many similarities between Matsya-6000 and ISRO's Gaganyaan programme. In both projects, life-support systems, such as oxygen supply and carbon dioxide removal processes, are of a similar type. Both missions are learning a great deal from each other. Although Samudrayaan has not received as much popular attention as Gaganyaan, it will significantly enhance India's ocean research capabilities. This submersible will be capable of carrying three people to a depth of 6,000 metres in its 2.1-metre spherical hull.

The Deep Ocean Mission is an important initiative of the Government of India, aimed at studying the resources and ecosystems present in the depths of the ocean. Under this mission, scientific submersibles like Matsya-6000 are being developed, which will place India among the few countries in the world that possess the capability to conduct manned research in the deep ocean. NIOT is working continuously for the implementation of this project, and various phases of this mission will be completed in the coming time.