Gaganyaan’s first test flight to start on October 21, says India’s Science and Technology Minister

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for a series of preliminary test flights to prepare for the Gaganyaan mission, set to begin on October 21. Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh made this announcement, underlining the significance of this venture.

The initial test, labelled the Test Vehicle Development Flight (TV-D1), will unfold at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This crucial phase’s primary objective is to evaluate the crew module intended for the forthcoming Indian astronaut mission, slated for late next year.

The assessment will encompass launching the module into outer space, ensuring its safe return to Earth, and executing a successful recovery in the Bay of Bengal. Minister Singh emphasized that the Navy has already commenced practice operations for the module’s recovery during an event honouring ISRO engineers who contributed to the Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya L-1 missions.

In addition to the crew module, TV-D1 will also scrutinize the “crew escape” system, designed to guarantee the astronauts’ safe return in the event of any issues during their ascent into space.

The success of this test will lay the foundation for the first unmanned “Gaganyaan” mission and, ultimately, a manned mission to low-earth orbit, as Minister Singh reaffirmed. He also disclosed plans for a test flight in the following year, featuring “Vyommitra,” a female robot astronaut, preceding the ultimate manned “Gaganyaan” mission.

The Gaganyaan project’s primary goal is to showcase India’s human spaceflight capabilities by launching a crew into a 400 km orbit and safely bringing them back to Earth by landing in the Indian Sea.

This project’s success hinges on a methodical approach that capitalizes on India’s internal expertise, its industrial sector’s experience, the intellectual resources of academic and research institutions, and advanced technologies available through international collaborations.

Crucial prerequisites for the Gaganyaan mission encompass developing critical technologies such as a human-rated launch vehicle for safe crew transportation into space, a Life Support System to create a habitable environment for the crew in space, provisions for crew emergency escape, and the refinement of crew management aspects related to training, recovery, and rehabilitation.