PARACHUTE TESTS FOR GAGANYAAN ASTRONAUT RECOVERY

NEWS – The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted a new set of on-ground and in-air parachute tests for its maiden human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, marking a critical step towards ensuring astronaut safety during re-entry and splashdown.

HIGHLIGHTS

About the Gaganyaan Mission

• India’s first human spaceflight programme, announced in 2018.
• Objective:
  • Short term: Send Indian astronauts to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and bring them back safely.
  • Long term: Establish a sustained indigenous human spaceflight capability.
• Expected launch timeline: Early 2027.
• Successful completion would place India among the US, Russia, and China.

Recent Parachute Tests: Key Highlights

• Conducted on December 18 and 19, 2025.
• Focus: Testing drogue parachutes under extreme conditions.
• Test setup:
  • Parachutes deployed on a rocket sled moving at ~600 km/h.
  • Facility used: Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh.
• Outcome:
  • Successful reefed opening (controlled, gradual inflation).
  • Validated system reliability and astronaut safety.

Why Parachute Tests are Crucial

• Re-entry phase is one of the most dangerous stages of human spaceflight.
• Parachutes:
  • Stabilise the crew module
  • Reduce velocity
  • Ensure soft splashdown in the sea
• Reefing mechanism:
  • Prevents sudden jerks on astronauts
  • Uses timed pyrotechnic devices for gradual full deployment.

Gaganyaan’s 10-Parachute Recovery System

The crew module uses four types of parachutes:

• Apex Cover Separation Parachutes (2) – Remove protective apex cover.
• Drogue Parachutes (2) – Stabilise and slow down the module.
• Pilot Chutes (3) – Extract main parachutes.
• Main Parachutes (3, 25 m each) – Enable final deceleration and splashdown.

Associated Developments

• ISRO’s heavy-lift launcher LVM-03 is set to launch a 6,100 kg US satellite to LEO, highlighting India’s growing launch capabilities.