ISRO Successfully Tests Gaganyaan Parachute in First Air-Drop Trial
ISRO Successfully Tests Gaganyaan Parachute in First Air-Drop Trial
ISRO's IADT-01 marks a milestone for Gaganyaan, validating parachute-based deceleration with the IAF, Navy, Coast Guard, and DRDO, as Vyommitra prepares for December's uncrewed G1 mission.
The first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) for the Gaganyaan mission's parachute-based deceleration system was completed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The test is an important step in confirming safety features intended to guarantee astronauts' safe return to Earth. The demonstration was carried out in collaboration with the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), according to ISRO.
In a post on X, the space agency said,
“ISRO accomplishes first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) for end-to-end demonstration of parachute-based deceleration system for Gaganyaan missions. This test is a joint effort of ISRO, Indian Air Force, DRDO, Indian Navy, and Indian Coast Guard.”
Gaganyaan Trial Set for December
The half-humanoid robot Vyommitra will fly as part of India's first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, G1, in December, ISRO chairman V Narayanan confirmed. During a press conference in New Delhi, Narayanan stated that the Gaganyaan project was moving along nicely and that 80% of the tests had already been finished. According to him, about 7,700 tests have been completed thus far, with the remaining 2,300 anticipated to be completed by March of the following year.
Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, had earlier announced the successful completion of the Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3) development and ground testing for India's first human spaceflight mission.
"Orbital Module: The propulsion systems for Crew Module and Service Module have been developed and tested,"
Infrastructure established: Orbital Module Preparation Facility, Gaganyaan Control Centre, Gaganyaan Control facility, Crew training facility, Second Launch pad modifications.”
Singh wrote in a written response to the Lok Sabha.
The ECLSS engineering model was implemented. Five different motor types were developed and put through static testing for the Crew Escape System (CES). He further told,
“A Test Vehicle developed for validating CES and flight tested in TV-D1. Activities are in progress for TV-D2 and IADT-01. Flight Operations and Communication Network: Ground network configuration finalised. IDRSS-1 feeder stations and terrestrial links established. Crew Recovery Operations: Recovery assets finalised. Recovery Plan worked out. First Uncrewed Mission (G1): C32-G stage and CES motors realised. HS200 Motors and CES Fore end up to Crew Module Jettisoning Motor stacked. Crew Module and Service Module structure realised. Crew Module Phase-1 checks completed.”
Future Implementations
Vyommitra will travel to space as part of the human-robot mission Gaganyaan-1. According to Singh, India also plans to launch its first crewed Gaganyaan flight in 2027, followed by Chandrayaan-4 in 2028, a mission to Venus, and the proposed Bharat Antariksh Station by 2035. He added that by 2040, India hopes to send an Indian astronaut to the moon.
