ISRO’s First Integrated Air Drop Test Boosts Gaganyaan Mission

On 24 August, ISRO accomplished the first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-1) for the Gaganyaan mission from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, India.

This mega test brought in an all-important passing into a later stage of validating parachute-based deceleration methods for the Crew Module (CM), an extremely important system during re-entry into the atmosphere and landing for the safety of astronauts.

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Why in the News?

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has just launched the first integrated air drop test (IADT-1) for the Gaganyaan mission.

In this test, the complete real-life performance of the parachute-based deceleration system was validated. The event saw participation by ISRO, DRDO, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.

Gaganyaan Mission: Introduction-

This mission primarily comprises sending a three-man crew into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at around 400 kilometres for three days, then safely returning them to Earth. The mission will establish that India has developed the whole spectrum of human space flight technology on its own. It also aims to establish crew safety standards with advanced life-support and re-entry systems. 

• Mission Timeline: Several uncrewed test flights will occur leading up to an expected first crewed mission in early 2027. These uncrewed missions will verify technologies for the crewed mission in several phases relating to astronaut safety before launch.

• Global significance: Their success would render India one such member of the elite club of nations, along with the U.S., Russia, and China, so endowed and would act as an indirect contribution to India’s participation in international missions in space exploration.

Above all, it encourages domestic innovation in the aerospace and defence sectors.

Astronaut Training:

The astronauts selected by India are:

• Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair 
• Group Captain Ajit Krishnan 
• Group Captain Angad Pratap 
• Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla

Key Technologies for Crew Safety-

Human-Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3):

• An enhanced variant of the ISRO’s LVM3 rocket. 
• Consists of solid, liquid, and cryogenic stages. 
• Includes a Crew Escape System (CES) for ensuring the safety of astronauts in launch emergencies. 

Orbital Module (OM):

• Composed of the Crew Module (CM) and the Service Module (SM). 

Crew Module (CM): 

• A pressurised volume with Earth-like conditions. 
• Includes life-support systems, avionics, and crew interface systems. 
• It is designed to ensure safe atmospheric re-entry. 

Service Module (SM):

• Provides propulsion, thermal control, and power systems. 
• It supports CM in orbit but is itself unpressurised.

Mission Preparatory Tests-

• Integrated Air Drop Testing (IADT): typically demonstrates parachutes and deceleration systems. Full-deployment sequence on the ground is enrolled. The test is to be measured by whether it guarantees deceleration performance with safe splashdown capability. 
• Tested Vehicle Missions (TV): Abort and launch systems testing. Escape systems and dynamics-of-flight reliability, as well as data gathered on propulsion and trajectory, are taken into account. 
• The Pad Abort Test (PAT): The crew’s safety is guaranteed at various altitudes. The test essentially checks how effective the Crew Escape System will be in emergencies. The test ensures that astronauts will get from the launch pad to safety within seconds. 
• Water Survival Test Facility (WSTF): Recovery trials with contingency support from outside-the-Navy support. It simulates recovery procedures for splashing down in the sea. The tests are used to improve coordination between ISRO and the naval justifications for astronaut safety.

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Details of IADT-1-

Objective:

To ensure all events culminating in the successful delivery of the parachute system-based de-acceleration device for the Crew Module at end-to-end testing, replicating action during an actual mission. Procedure – Simulated crew module (approximately 4.8 tons) air-dropped from an altitude of approximately 3 kilometres, carried out by an IAF Chinook heavy-lift helicopter.

Deployment Sequence:

• Apex Cover Separation (ACS) parachutes (2.5 m, 2 units) were deployed first.
• Followed by Drogue parachutes (5.8 m, 2 units) for initial deceleration.
• Pilot parachutes (3.4 m, 3 units) were then fired.
• Finally, the Main parachutes (25 m, 3 units) reduced the terminal velocity to ~8 m/s.
• In total, there were 10 parachutes deployed in a pre-defined sequence. 

Recovery:

• The CM splashed down safely in the sea.
• The module was recovered by the Indian Navy using INS Anvesha and was taken to Chennai port.

Importance of the Test-

• Assured reliable parachute deployment under real conditions.
• Made validated avionics systems that monitored descent parameters.
• Demonstrated Safe abort capability during emergencies on the launch pad.
• Assured even stronger faith in the safety systems of the Crew Module.
• Delayed operational experience of sea recovery operations.
• Strengthened an inter-agency collaboration of ISRO, IAF, Navy, and Coast Guard.
• Gathered very useful test data guiding improvements for future missions.
• Public and scientific confidence has increased in India and its first human space program.

Technical Highlights-

Customer Centricity-Customer service is an approach to use and access for the users, alongside market measurement and evaluation concerning service delivery. Process-service delivery implies that such goods have to be made available under service delivery for the customers. It means providing goods even outside usual business working hours.

•  Distribution: It concentrates on the source of products from which the goods can be collected or delivered to the customers. 
• Simulation and Modelling: Intensive modelling of helicopter dynamics and underslung payloads. 
• Trial Run: Multiple sorties were conducted using dummy modules before the final flight test. 
• Collaboration: The involvement of several agencies ensures precision and safety. Data Acquisition: Essential testing parameters were stored on-board avionics and Solid-State Data Recorder (SSDR).

Future Plans-

Conducting similar tests under different deployment conditions. At present, unmanned tests in development with crew module prototypes will take place. Final preparations for the last human-rated launch in 2027. This will be the agency’s last human-rated launch into space before it embarks on a mission to send astronauts safely into space.

Key Dates:

• IADT-1 Date: 24th August 2025. 
• Goals: To verify the Crew Module parachute deceleration system. 
• Parachutes Utilised: 10 (ACS, Drogue, Pilot, and Main).
• Drop Height: Approximately 3 km from a Chinook helicopter. 
• Recovery Vessel: INS Anvesha. 
• Importance: A critical milestone for the readiness of the Gaganyaan mission.

Conclusion-

The completion of IADT-1 marks a milestone towards the erecting capabilities of ISRO in human spaceflight technology. Parachute-based de-acceleration systems proved their soundness and collaborated at the last stage between the defence and space agencies to push the nation in its first-ever crewed mission to space by 2027. Thus, further elevating India in the global arena of space and making astronaut safety a pivotal foundation upon which the Gaganyaan mission will be built.

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