Context:- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted a key parachute test for the Gaganyaan Crew Module on November 3, 2025, at the Babina Field Firing Range (BFFR), Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh)
About the Test
- Part of Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Tests (IMAT) for qualifying Gaganyaan’s parachute system.
- Crew Module–equivalent mass dropped from 2.5 km altitude using an IAF IL-76 aircraft.
- Validated structural strength, load balance, and reliability under asymmetric disreefing, a critical descent condition.
Gaganyaan Mission Overview
India’s Gaganyaan Mission aims to demonstrate indigenous human spaceflight capability by sending a 3-member crew to a 400 km Low Earth Orbit for 3 days. The program includes two unmanned test flights followed by one manned mission, targeted for completion before 2026.
Key Objectives
- Demonstrate indigenous human spaceflight capability.
- Establish a foundation for future sustained space exploration.
- Conduct micro-gravity experiments.
Core Technology
- Launch Vehicle: A human-rated variant of the three-stage LVM3 rocket.
- Orbital Module: The OM orbits the Earth and consists of two main components:
1. Crew Module (CM): The pressurized, habitable section designed for re-entry.
2. Service Module (SM): Provides propulsion, power, and thermal control in orbit.
- Life Support System: This system ensures a habitable, Earth-like environment within the CM and includes provisions for crew management and emergency escape.
Safety and Validation
- Crew Escape System (CES): Ensures astronaut safety during launch abort scenarios, validated by tests like TV-D1.
- Phased Testing: A comprehensive testing protocol includes unmanned flights (using the “Vyommitra” humanoid), abort simulations, and recovery trials.
- Astronaut Training: Crew members undergo rigorous training at a dedicated facility in Bengaluru.
Recovery Trials: ISRO and the Indian Navy conduct joint exercises at facilities like the Water Survival Test Facility (WSTF) to refine crew module recovery operations.
Gaganyaan Mission: Core Challenges
Manned missions present severe challenges in transport, crew safety, and life support.
- Indigenous Technology: Requires complex R&D and rigorous testing of new, high-reliability systems.
- Launch Vehicle: Demands developing a human-rated, heavy-lift rocket, exceeding standard satellite launch requirements.
- Crew Training:- Lacking comprehensive domestic simulation facilities necessitates reliance on foreign partners.
- Regenerative Life Support:- Strict weight constraints mandate advanced, closed-loop systems for air, water, and waste.
- Crew Safety and Environment: Ensuring crew health (mitigating radiation and zero-gravity effects) and maintaining a stable, habitable atmosphere are primary difficulties.
