Watch Gaganyaan's Crew Escape Module Make Successful Splashdown in Bay of Bengal

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a significant milestone on Saturday by successfully conducting the first test flight of the Gaganyaan mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The test flight, which was initially aborted at 8:45 am due to an engine ignition issue, demonstrated the crew escape system and crew module's performance. The sequence involved launching the crew escape system and crew module to an altitude of 17 km, followed by a safe touchdown in the Bay of Bengal, approximately 10 km from Sriharikota.

ISRO celebrated the accomplishment, stating, "Mission Gaganyaan TV D1 Test Flight is accomplished. Crew Escape System performed as intended. Mission Gaganyaan gets off on a successful note." The deployment of the three main parachutes of Gaganyaan TV-D1 followed the successful test vehicle launch.

ISRO Chief S Somanath expressed his happiness with the mission's success and provided an explanation for the earlier abort. He said, "After going through the nominal lift-off process, there was a hold issued by the ground computer, which is called the automatic launch sequence computer, that detected a non-conformance for allowing the engine to continue the thrusting to go further. This happened due to a monitoring anomaly in the system, which is why we could identify it very fast and correct it."

The test flight, designated as the Test Vehicle Development Flight Mission-1 (TV-D1 Flight Test), aimed to demonstrate the crew module and crew escape system's performance and safety as part of the Gaganyaan mission. It also tested the safe landing in the Bay of Bengal after the rocket launch.

The test vehicle measures 34.9 meters in height and has a lift-off weight of 44 tonnes. Its structure features a single-walled unpressurized aluminum design with a simulated thermal protection system.

The mission objectives of the TV-D1 launch included the demonstration and evaluation of Test Vehicle subsystems, assessment of the Crew Escape System's performance, including various separation systems, examination of crew module characteristics, and the demonstration of the deceleration system at higher altitudes and its recovery.

The highly anticipated Gaganyaan mission's ultimate goal is to send humans into space on a Low Earth Orbit at an altitude of 400 km for a three-day mission, with a safe return to Earth scheduled for 2025. This achievement will position India as the fourth nation to launch a manned spaceflight mission, following the footsteps of the US, Russia, and China.