ISRO completes second airdrop test for Gaganyaan, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• ISRO successfully conducted the second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) for Gaganyaan at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota on Friday.
• A simulated Crew Module weighing 5.7 tonnes was lifted to 3 km by an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter and released into the sea.
• The test involved deploying 10 parachutes to safely decelerate the Crew Module for touchdown.
• The Indian Navy assisted in the successful recovery of the simulated Crew Module.

Detailed Insights:

• The IADT-02 test validates the parachute-based deceleration system of the Crew Module, crucial for safe re-entry and landing during the Gaganyaan mission.
• The Crew Module's weight simulates the mass of the module in the first un-crewed Gaganyaan mission (G1).
• The Gaganyaan mission is India’s first human spaceflight program, with the first mission scheduled for next year.
• The test involved coordination between ISRO, the Indian Air Force, the Indian Navy, and the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).
• The first Integrated Air Drop Test for Gaganyaan was conducted on August 24, 2025, in Sriharikota.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Crew Module: The capsule designed to house astronauts during spaceflight, re-entry, and landing.
• Gaganyaan: India's human spaceflight program, aiming to send astronauts into Earth orbit.
• Parachute-based deceleration system: A system using parachutes to slow down the Crew Module during its descent.