Context: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully carried out its first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-1) at Sriharikota, a critical milestone in preparations for Gaganyaan Mission- the country’s maiden human spaceflight programme.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Gaganyaan Mission.
Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT)
- The first Integrated Air Drop Test was conducted for an end-to-end demonstration of the parachute-based deceleration system for the Gaganyaan Mission.
- The IADT is a specialised trial to ensure the parachute system designed for the Gaganyaan crew module performs reliably in real-world conditions.
- During the test, a dummy crew capsule weighing around 5 tonnes was lifted up through the air by a Chinook helicopter, and then dropped.
- As it descended through a few kms, its main parachutes had to open in a specific sequence to decelerate the capsule to a safe splashdown speed.
- During an actual flight with astronauts, the main parachutes will have to deploy after the capsule has re-entered the atmosphere and has been slowed first by the heat shields and drogue parachutes.
Significance:
- The ascent, descent, and post-splashdown phases of the Gaganyaan mission are expected to be the most risky for the astronauts. The successful conduction of the first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) is vital to ensure the safety of astronauts in the upcoming Gaganyaan Mission.
Gaganyaan Mission
- ISRO’s ambitious human spaceflight mission which will carry 3 astronauts (Vyomanauts) to Low Earth Orbit (400 kilometres) for a 3-days mission, and bring them back safely to Earth by landing in Indian sea-waters.
- Expected launch: Crewed launch is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.
- Launch Vehicle: Human Rated LVM3.
- Human Space Flight Centre will coordinate the programme, and will be responsible for the implementation of the project.
- Once completed, India will become the world's fourth nation to conduct independent human spaceflight after Russia, United States and China.
Components of Gaganyaan Mission:
- Crew Module: A crew module and service module. The crew members have been shortlisted by the IAF and ISRO. The crew will perform micro-gravity and other scientific experiments.
- Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE):
- Gaganyaan would return back to Earth. While re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, the spacecraft needs to withstand very high temperatures created due to atmospheric friction.
- A prior critical experiment was carried out in 2014 along with LVM3, when the CARE capsule successfully demonstrated that it could survive atmospheric re-entry.
- Crew Escape System- PAT: Crew Escape System is an emergency accident avoidance measure. In 2018, ISRO completed the first successful flight ‘pad abort test’ or Crew Escape System.
- Environmental Control & Life Support System ECLSS: ECLSS will:
- Maintain steady cabin pressure and air composition
- Remove carbon dioxide and other harmful gases
- Control temperature and humidity
- Manage parameters like fire detection and suppression
- Vyom Mitra: ISRO’s female humanoid robot that will test-flight Gaganyaan.
Preparatory work for Gaganyaan Mission:
The major preparatory work for Gaganyaan had already been completed.
- Propulsion systems for the crew module and service module have been developed and tested.
- Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) engineering model has been realised.
- Crew Escape System (CES): five types of motors developed and static tested.
- Infrastructure had been established for the orbital module preparation facility, Gaganyaan Control Centre, Gaganyaan control facility, crew training facility, and second launch pad modifications.
- After successful execution of IADT-01, ISRO will conduct two critical trials before the actual Gaganyaan Mission carrying astronauts. It includes-
- Second Test Vehicle Mission (TV-D2): will put to test the crew escape system (CES) under critical conditions.
- Uncrewed Gaganyaan-1 (G1) flight: The unmanned spacecraft will be launched aboard a human-rated LVM3 rocket. The mission will also have on board Vyommitra, the humanoid robot developed by the ISRO.
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) plays major role:
- VSSC had a major role in IADT-01, being responsible for 90% of the activities alongside the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) and SDSC-SHAR.
IADT-01 successfully demonstrated the parachute-based crew module deceleration system for Gaganyaan Mission.