Gaganyaan Mission: ISRO completes second Integrated Air Drop Test

Why in News?

Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) completed the second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This marks an important milestone towards the readiness for the Gaganyaan mission. 

In 2025, ISRO accomplished the first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) for the Gaganyaan mission in Sriharikota.

Second Integrated Air Drop Test: 

• Aim: End-to-end demonstration of the parachute-based deceleration system for the Gaganyaan Mission. 
• In this test, a simulated Crew Module (the capsule in which astronauts sit during a human flight during re-entry and landing) was lifted by an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter to an altitude of about 3 km, and released over a designated drop zone in the sea, near the Sriharikota coast. 
• The simulated Crew Module weighs about 5.7 tonnes, which is equivalent to the mass of the Crew Module in the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission (G1).
• 10 parachutes of four types were deployed during the descent of the Crew Module, gradually reducing the velocity for safe touchdown.
• Significance: The IADT-02 test validated the parachute-based deceleration systems in the Crew Module. The successful conduction is vital to ensure the safety of astronauts. 

What is Gaganyaan Mission?

• Initiative of: Indian Space Research Organisation 
• Human spaceflight mission to Low Earth Orbit  (400 kilometres). 
• The mission aims to carry 3 astronauts (Vyomanauts) to LEO for a short-duration mission (~3–7 days), and bring them back safely to Earth by landing in the Indian waters. 
• Launch: Crewed launch is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027. 
• Crew members: Astronauts have been shortlisted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) & ISRO, and trained with international collaboration. The crew will perform microgravity, technology demonstrations and other scientific experiments. 
• Launch Vehicle: Human-rated Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3)
• Human Space Flight Centre will coordinate the implementation of the project. 
• Upon completion, India will become the fourth nation to conduct an independent human spaceflight after Russia, the United States and China.

Components of Gaganyaan Mission: 

• Crew Module (CM) and Service Module (SM): The Orbital Module of Gaganyaan consists of:
  • Crew Module (CM): Habitable capsule for astronauts.
  • Service Module (SM): Provides propulsion, power, avionics and thermal systems. 
• Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE): CARE (2014) was a key precursor experiment launched using LVM3 (then GSLV Mk III). It validated the full-scale thermal protection and parachute systems essential for surviving the extreme heat of a sub-orbital re-entry, i.e., the capsule’s ability to withstand extreme temperatures (~1600°C+) during atmospheric re-entry.
• Crew Escape System (CES): CES is the emergency escape system to quickly separate the crew module from the rocket during launch failure. Pad Abort Test (PAT) successfully demonstrated the escape system. Further validated through Test Vehicle missions (TV-D1, TV-D2, etc.).
• Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS): Engineering models of ECLSS have already been developed and tested. ECLSS ensures a habitable environment inside the crew module: Functions include- Maintain cabin pressure, Regulate oxygen levels, Remove carbon dioxide, Control temperature & humidity, Detect and suppress fire, Manage waste and air purification. 
• Vyom Mitra: ISRO’s female humanoid robot astronaut. Will fly in upcoming uncrewed mission before the crewed launch (~2027). It will test life-support systems and simulate human presence.

UPSC PYQ 2025

Q. Consider the following space missions: 

I. Axiom-4 

II. SpaDex 

III. Gaganyaan

How many of the space missions given above encourage and support microgravity research?

(a) Only one 

(b) Only two 

(c) All three 

(d) None 

Answer: (c)