ISRO Chief S Somanath Announces Successful Completion of Gaganyaan’s First Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1)
BI News, Agencies : ISRO scientists, after a two hour delay and nerve-wracking moments as the engine of TV-D1 failed to ignite initially, on Saturday launched the rocket carrying payloads related to crew safety in Gaganyaan mission with precision from Sriharikota and achieved the goal of Crew Module and Crew Escape separation.
ISRO chief S. Somanath said, Gaganyaan’s first Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) was successfully accomplished. The automatic launch sequence began at 8.30 AM IST, but the mission’s ground computers halted the sequence after observing an anomaly, according to ISRO chief. Since then, the issue has been identified, and the mission launched at 10 AM IST on Saturday. The Crew Escape System successfully separated the Crew Module from the launch vehicle. After descending using parachutes, it splashed down successfully in the Bay of Bengal.
The primary objective of this Flight test vehicle Abort mission was to demonstrate the performance of the Crew escape system as part of the Gaganyaan mission. The mission aimed to evaluate various subsystems of the Test Vehicle, including the Crew Escape System and its separation systems. Additionally, it sought to assess crew module characteristics and demonstrate the deceleration system at higher altitudes and its recovery.
“Accused in Nithari Serial Killings, Moninder Singh Pandher, Released from Jail”
The Test Vehicle used for this abort mission was a single-stage liquid rocket specifically developed for this purpose. It carried the Crew Module (CM) and Crew Escape Systems (CES) equipped with their fast-acting solid motors, along with CM fairing (CMF) and Interface Adapters. The mission simulated an abort condition during the ascent trajectory, corresponding to a Mach number of 1.2, which is encountered during the Gaganyaan mission.
The successful execution of this test flight marks a significant achievement for India’s space exploration efforts, showcasing the country’s potential to send humans into space. The Gaganyaan project aims to demonstrate India’s human spaceflight capabilities by launching a crew of three members into a 400 km orbit for a 3-day mission, ensuring their safe return by landing in Indian waters. Upon its completion, India will become the fourth nation, after the US, Russia, and China, to undertake a manned spaceflight mission.
“India is now poised to take another giant leap in space exploration. Today, ISRO launched the TV-D1 Test Flight of Gaganyaan into space, marking a significant milestone. Congratulations to our brilliant scientists on the successful test flight,” tweeted Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
