ISRO to Test Launch Module to Space and Recover it in Bay of Bengal Ahead of Gaganyaan Mission
Key Highlights :
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing to conduct a test flight ahead of its ambitious Gaganyaan mission on October 21. The test flight, called the Test Vehicle Development Flight (TV-D1), will involve launching a module to outer space, bringing it back to earth, and recovering it after touchdown in the Bay of Bengal.
Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh made the announcement on Tuesday during a felicitation ceremony for the personnel involved in the Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya L1 missions. According to a report published by the news agency PTI, the Navy has already started mock operations to recover the module from the Bay of Bengal.
The test flight will also test the “crew escape” system that is expected to bring back the crew to Earth if the spacecraft faces a problem while ascending into space. Singh said that the success of the test will set the stage for the first unmanned “Gaganyaan” mission and ultimately, a manned mission to outer space in a low-earth orbit.
The Gaganyaan mission is aimed at developing a human-habitable space capsule that will carry a three-member crew into an orbit of 400 km (250 miles) for three days, before returning to safety in a planned splashdown in the Indian Ocean. The Ahmedabad facility will be responsible for building two critical systems for the Gaganyaan mission- the cabin systems and communication systems.
The cabin of the spacecraft will house three seats for astronauts, along with a lighting system and two display screens to monitor various parameters inside the cabin. One of the significant features of the Gaganyaan cabin will be its camera sensors, which will track oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, ensuring the safety and well-being of the astronauts during their mission.
The mission is expected to have internet facilities, cameras throughout the cabin and two TV monitors to keep astronauts connected and informed. The first unmanned “Gaganyaan” mission will be followed by a manned mission, which will carry “Vyommitra”, a female robot astronaut.
The TV-D1 test flight is a crucial step towards the successful launch of the Gaganyaan mission, and will provide valuable insight into the performance of the spacecraft and the safety of the astronauts. The successful launch of the mission will mark a major milestone in India’s space exploration journey and will open up new avenues of research and development.
