Why in the news?

  • The ISRO successfully conducted its first Integrated Air Drop Test, a milestone in the preparation for Gaganyaan Mission.

Gaganyaan Mission

  • What is it?:
    • The Gaganyaan project plans to launch a crew of three people into orbit at a 400-kilometer altitude for a three-day mission before returning them safely to land in Indian sea waters.
    • Gaganyaan will be India’s first manned mission to space ( The US, Russia, and China conducted manned missions to space )
  • Launch Vehicle: It will be Launched by ISRO’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV – Mk III (3 stages heavy-lift vehicle).
  • Orbit: Low Earth orbit of approximately 400km.
  • Objectives of the Mission:
    • Develop an indigenous human spaceflight capability.
    • Enhance India’s position in space diplomacy & global prestige.
    • Stimulate research, technology innovation, and industrial growth.
    • Lay groundwork for future deep space missions (Moon, Mars, space station).
  • Mission Timeline:
    • Pad Abort Test: Successful in 2018.
    • Test Vehicle Abort Missions: TV-D1 conducted in 2023, demonstrated crew escape system.
    • Uncrewed Gaganyaan: Will carry humanoid robot Vyommitra (female-looking space robot) – Expected during 2025-26.
    • Manned Mission: Targeted for 2026–27
  • Significance:
    • Strategic: Enhances self-reliance in human spaceflight technology.
    • Scientific: Pushes R&D in biomedical engineering, AI, materials science, avionics.
    • Economic: Spurs industry participation and job creation.
    • Global: Positions India as a major space power with potential for international collaborations (NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA).

Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01)

  • What is it?: It is a crucial exercise designed to validate the end-to-end parachute-based deceleration system for the Gaganyaan crew module.
  • Operational Details:
    • A dummy crew module (~4.8–5 tonnes) was carried aloft by an IAF Chinook helicopter to an altitude of approximately 3.1–3.5 km.
    • The capsule was then released, initiating a multi-stage parachute deployment to safely decelerate the module for splashdown.
  • Experiment Centre: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota
  • Agencies Involved: The test was a joint exercise, involving coordination among ISRO, the Indian Air Force, DRDO, the Indian Navy, and the Indian Coast Guard.
  • Significance of the Test:
    • Safety validation for the crew module.
    • Shows mission readiness for the Uncrewed Gaganyaan test flight.
    • Interoperability and coordination of Indian agencies like the ISRO, IAF, DRDO, Navy, and Coast Guard.