Sriharikota, Oct 20 – The countdown for the first unmanned Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) of the Gaganyaan programme is set to commence at 7:30 pm, with the launch scheduled for 0800 hrs on Saturday morning from the First Launch Pad at SHAR Range Sriharikota. The 12.5-hour countdown will culminate in a short-duration mission lasting 531 seconds (approximately nine minutes).
This mission marks a significant milestone in India’s Gaganyaan programme, its maiden manned space mission. The focus of the mission is to demonstrate the crew escape system (CES) at Mach Number 1.2, featuring a newly developed Test Vehicle. The flight sequence includes Crew Module Separation and Recovery, showcasing the capabilities of the Crew Escape System.
The objectives of the mission include the flight demonstration and evaluation of Test Vehicle sub-systems, CES, various separation systems, and the demonstration of Crew Module characteristics and deceleration systems at higher altitudes.
The Liquid Propelled Single Stage Test Vehicle, standing at 35 meters tall and weighing about 44 tons, employs a modified Vikas engine. The Crew Module (CM), a single-walled unpressurized aluminum structure weighing 4,520 kg, is mounted at the fore end of the test vehicle.
The entire flight sequence spans from lift-off to the crew module’s safe touchdown at sea, approximately 10 km from Sriharikota. About 60 seconds after lift-off, the crew escape system will separate at an altitude of 11.7 km, followed by the separation of CM-CES 30 seconds later at an altitude of 16.7 km with a velocity of 148.7 m/s.
The autonomous abort sequence will then unfold, involving the separation of CES and the deployment of a series of parachutes. The mission will conclude with the safe splashdown of the CM in the sea, approximately 10 km from Sriharikota. The Indian Navy will facilitate the recovery process, with recovery ships reaching the CM, divers attaching a buoy, and hoisting it to shore using a ship crane.
This mission underscores India’s pursuit of space exploration and its commitment to advancing capabilities in crewed space missions.
