Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully carried out an important test for its Gaganyaan mission, bringing India closer to sending astronauts into space.
The test, called the second Integrated Air Drop Test, was conducted on April 10 near Sriharikota. It focused on safely bringing the crew module back to Earth, one of the most critical parts of any human space mission.
In the test, a crew module weighing about 5.7 tonnes was lifted to a height of around 3 km by a helicopter from the Indian Air Force. It was then released over the sea to simulate how astronauts would return at the end of a mission.
As the module descended, a series of parachutes opened one after the other. This slowed down the capsule and ensured it landed gently in the sea. The entire sequence worked as planned, showing that the system designed to protect astronauts during landing is reliable.
After touching down in the water, the module was recovered by the Indian Navy, highlighting the teamwork between different agencies involved in the mission.
This was the second such test by ISRO, following an earlier trial conducted last year. These air-drop tests are meant to recreate real mission conditions and check whether the systems can handle them safely.
The Gaganyaan mission aims to send Indian astronauts, or “Gagannauts,” into space and bring them back safely. With this latest success, ISRO has taken another significant step towards that goal.
More tests are planned in the coming months to further improve the systems. Once these are completed, ISRO is expected to carry out an uncrewed mission before finally sending astronauts into space.
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