Chennai, Oct 16: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to demonstrate its first flight for testing the crew module escape system as part of the Gaganyaan mission on October 21. The unmanned test flight mission, known as Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1), will use ISRO’s heaviest rocket, LVM3, and is scheduled to take place from the Sriharikota spaceport.
ISRO Chief S. Somanath stated that preparatory works for TV-D1 are underway, with three additional test flights (TV-D2, TV-D3, and TV-D4) planned to test systems before the maiden human flight mission. The Gaganyaan mission, India’s first manned mission to space, is expected to occur in the second quarter of the following year.
The upcoming test aims to assess the performance of the crew module, the section of the vehicle where Indian astronauts will be housed. The test involves launching the module into outer space, bringing it back to Earth, and recovering it after touchdown in the Bay of Bengal. The Navy personnel have initiated mock operations for recovering the module, which also includes a crew escape system designed to bring astronauts safely back to the sea in case of any issues during the spacecraft’s ascent into space.
