Gaganyaan Crew Module Passes Crucial Re-entry Test

ISRO successfully carried out an Integrated Air Drop Test simulating the re-entry, parachute deployment, and sea recovery of the Gaganyaan crew module, marking a key milestone for India’s first human spaceflight mission.

• Parachute System: Designed by DRDO; part of a 10-parachute configuration for actual flights.

About Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01)

• Aim: To evaluate the end-to-end parachute deployment sequence, including: Extraction, Drogue chute activation, Main parachute deployment.
• Method: A dummy crew capsule (~5 tonnes) is dropped from an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter to validate the system’s performance

About the Gaganyaan Mission

Overview of Mission

• Flagship Human Spaceflight Project of ISRO.
• Goal: Send a crew to low Earth orbit (~400 km) and safely return them to Earth.
• Aim: Demonstrate India’s human spaceflight capability and strengthens its position in space technology.

Objectives of the Mission

• Human Space Capability: Validate India’s ability to launch astronauts into orbit and ensure safe return.
• Scientific & Educational Impact: Inspire careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Space among Indian youth.

Launch Vehicle & Technology

• Vehicle: GSLV Mk III (LVM-3), modified as Human-Rated LVM-3 to meet crew safety standards.
• Propulsion System: Three-stage system — solid, liquid, and cryogenic stages.
• Safety Features: Equipped with Crew Escape System (CES) and Orbital Module.

Astronaut Training

• Selected astronauts will train in Russia.
• Training includes preparation for weightlessness and operation in space conditions.

Integral Components of the Gaganyaan Spacecraft

Orbital Module (OM)

• The Orbital Module will orbit the Earth and consists of two parts: the Crew Module (CM) and the Service Module (SM). It is fitted with advanced avionics and built with redundancy for reliability.
• Crew Module (CM):
  • Designed as a habitable space with an Earth-like atmosphere.
  • Equipped with control systems, crew communication, navigation, guidance, and avionics.
  • Built with a double-wall rigid structure: a pressurized metallic inner structure and an unpressurized outer shell with a Thermal Protection System (TPS).
  • Contains life support, human-centered systems, avionics, crew interfaces, and deceleration systems.
  • Designed for safe re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
• Service Module (SM):
• • Provides essential support to the Crew Module in orbit.
  • An unpressurized unit containing propulsion, power, thermal systems, avionics, and deployment mechanisms.

Crew Escape System (CES)

• Ensures astronaut safety in case of emergencies.
• Tested through the Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1), which validates the ability to separate the Crew Module from the rocket during a mid-flight emergency.

Phases of the GAGANYAAN Mission

ISRO has structured the mission into multiple phases for safety and reliability:

• Test Phase:
  • Integrated AirDrop Test (IADT): Validates parachute + deceleration systems.
  • Pad Abort Test (PAT): Checks escape system by dropping Crew Module from different heights.
  • Test Vehicle (TV) Flights: Single-stage liquid rocket used to test abort functions.
• Unmanned Missions
  • Conducted before the human mission to test technology, safety, and reliability.
  • Includes airdrop tests, abort system validation, and flight trials.
  • Water Survival Test Facility (WSTF): Initial recovery tests with the Indian Navy.
  • Vyommitra: A humanoid robot designed to fly on unmanned missions before human spaceflight.
• Manned Mission: The final phase will carry Indian astronauts into space, following the two unmanned test flights.

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