Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a significant triumph with the successful test of the crew escape system for its ambitious Gaganyaan project.
This crucial demonstration, known as the TV-D1 mission, marks a pivotal step towards ISRO’s upcoming manned space mission in 2025 and an unmanned mission scheduled for the next year.
The primary objective of the TV-D1 mission was to comprehensively assess the vehicle’s performance, the reliability of the crew escape system, and the integrity of the crew module. Gaganyaan was launched with precision at 10 a.m. from the inaugural launch pad at the Sathish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, following a brief delay due to weather-related concerns.
Approximately nine minutes after liftoff, the mission’s crew module safely splashed down in the Bay of Bengal, approximately ten kilometers from Sriharikota.
The Indian Navy played a pivotal role in the mission, stationing at the designated recovery location to retrieve the module. Naval divers promptly recovered the module, and it will soon be transported to Madras Harbour on Saturday.
Speaking after the successful launch, ISRO Chairman Somanath expressed satisfaction with the mission’s flawless execution. He highlighted that all parameters and sequences unfolded according to plan, demonstrating the crew’s ability to exit safely in the event of any malfunction.
The successful splashdown test further reaffirmed the safety of astronauts during their space journey.
Somanath underscored the successful abort condition, emphasizing the remarkable velocity and precision exhibited during landing. He noted that the launch had originally been scheduled for 8 a.m. but was rescheduled to 8:30 a.m. due to weather-related concerns.
A temporary hold in the launch sequence due to a computer anomaly was swiftly resolved, allowing the mission to recommence at 10 a.m. Somanath praised the dedicated ISRO team’s swift response and readiness for future Gaganyaan launches.
Mission Director Sivakumar indicated that a detailed examination of the module would occur following its recovery.
Mission Executive R. Hutton celebrated the triumphant launch, describing all three experiments as remarkable and heralding ISRO’s success in its maiden mission.
The Director of the crew escape mission celebrated today’s achievement as a milestone and a source of motivation for the entire Gaganyaan team.
He expressed immense satisfaction with the successful crew safety testing, endorsing the system as robust and reliable. The Indian Navy’s seamless coordination for the crew module’s recovery received accolades from Director Unnikrishnan Nair, who confirmed the impeccable functionality of the crew module and its ten parachutes.
ISRO’s successful test flight for Gaganyaan sets the stage for India’s ambitious journey into manned space exploration, cementing its position as a formidable player in the global space arena.
