Context:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-1) on August 24, marking a crucial milestone in India’s first human spaceflight mission – Gaganyaan. The test validated the parachute-based deceleration system of the Crew Module (CM), essential for ensuring safe recovery of astronauts after spaceflight.
Key Highlights:
Test Overview
- IADT-1 involved dropping a 4.8-tonne dummy Crew Module from a helicopter at ~3 km altitude.
- Objective was to simulate the final descent phase of a human space mission.
- Targeted splashdown velocity: ~8 m/s, ensuring survivable landing conditions.
Parachute System Validation
- Tested the sequential deployment of parachutes:
- Drogue parachutes
- Pilot parachutes
- Main parachutes
- Ensured controlled deceleration after atmospheric re-entry.
Institutional Collaboration
- Conducted with support from:
- Indian Air Force
- DRDO
- Indian Navy
- Indian Coast Guard
- Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) handled nearly 90% of the test activities.
Mission Context
- Gaganyaan aims to send Indian astronauts to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) using a human-rated LVM3 rocket.
- Multiple system-level tests are mandatory before crewed missions.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Issue: Ensuring safe recovery of astronauts after space missions.
- Cause: High-speed atmospheric re-entry poses thermal and impact risks.
- Government Initiative:
- Gaganyaan Mission – India’s flagship human spaceflight programme.
- Key Technologies Involved:
- Parachute-based deceleration system
- Crew Escape System (CES) for launch failure scenarios
- Benefits:
- Enhances crew safety and mission reliability
- Strengthens India’s human spaceflight capability
- Challenges:
- Precision in parachute sequencing and deployment timing
- Ensuring reliability under extreme aerodynamic conditions
- Impact:
- Positions India among elite spacefaring nations with human spaceflight capability.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Facts & Provisions
- Gaganyaan: Human spaceflight mission to LEO (~400 km).
- LVM3: ISRO’s heaviest launch vehicle; payload capacity ~8 tonnes to LEO.
- Vyommitra: Humanoid robot to fly aboard uncrewed Gaganyaan-1 (G1) mission.
- Keywords & Conceptual Clarity
- Human-rating of launch vehicles
- Crew Module recovery systems
- Integrated testing approach in space missions
- Associated Developments
- SpaDeX Mission (May 2025): Demonstrated in-orbit docking, vital for future space stations.
- Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS): Planned by 2035.
- Crewed Lunar Mission: Targeted by 2040.
- Way Forward
- Conduct multiple abort and recovery tests under varied conditions.
- Strengthen inter-agency coordination and indigenous manufacturing.
- Focus on long-duration human missions and space station readiness.
UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):
- GS Paper 3: Science & Technology – Space technology, indigenisation, mission safety systems
- Prelims: ISRO missions, launch vehicles, human spaceflight technologies
- Mains: Role of space technology in national development and strategic capability