Which spacecraft is more user-friendly, American or Russian? Indian astronaut’s study reveals insights

While modern spacecraft can fly autonomously, manual control is essential during emergencies. Regardless of a spacecraft’s reliability, astronauts must master manual operations like steering, docking, and de-orbiting.

As part of his M.Tech research at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Indian astronaut candidate Group Captain Ajit Krishnan compared the manual steering and design approaches of Russian and American spacecraft. Trained at Russia’s Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre and ISRO facilities, Krishnan, along with 12 test pilots and 12 civilians, tested both spacecraft in a virtual reality (VR) environment developed by IISc.

The findings? The Russian Soyuz, which uses a control stick, was found to be more intuitive and user-friendly than the American SpaceX Crew Dragon’s touchscreen system. Interestingly, there was little difference in how pilots and civilians operated the Russian craft. However, the American system was more fuel-efficient, as the touchscreen required fewer inputs compared to the control stick.

Although Krishnan’s research is unrelated to India’s Gaganyaan mission, the results could influence future spacecraft and aircraft design.