ISRO conducts crucial safety tests on main parachutes for Gaganyaan crew, Pg16

Key Highlights:

• ISRO conducted a test on Gaganyaan Crew Module's main parachutes on November 3 at Babina Field Firing Range, Uttar Pradesh.
• The test was part of the Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Tests (IMAT) series.
• The parachute system has 10 parachutes of four types.
• A simulated mass equivalent to the Crew Module was dropped from 2.5 km altitude.
• The test successfully demonstrated a delay in disreefing between two main parachutes.

Detailed Insights:

• The Gaganyaan Crew Module's parachute system includes apex cover separation parachutes, drogue parachutes, pilot parachutes, and main parachutes.
• The descent sequence involves initial stabilization and deceleration using drogue parachutes, followed by the deployment of three pilot parachutes to extract three main parachutes.
• The system is designed with redundancy, where only two of the three main parachutes are sufficient for a safe landing.
• Reefed inflation is used for main parachute deployment, involving partial opening (reefing) followed by full opening (disreefing) after a set time.
• The recent test simulated a delay in disreefing between two main parachutes to validate the system under maximum design conditions.
• The test evaluated structural integrity and load distribution under asymmetric disreefing conditions, a critical load scenario during descent.
• The Indian Air Force’s IL-76 aircraft was used to drop a simulated mass equivalent to the Crew Module.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Reefing: The process of partially opening a parachute to control its initial deployment.
• Disreefing: The process of fully opening a parachute after a period of reefing.
• Redundancy: The inclusion of backup systems to ensure functionality in case of failure.