ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) conducted a successful test of the crew escape system for the Gaganyaan, India’s first human spaceflight mission, on October 21, 2023.
- The test involved a liquid-propelled single-stage Test Vehicle (TV-D1) launching from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, carrying the Crew Escape System, a homegrown safety system for Indian astronauts.
- The test validated various motors, including low-altitude motors, high-altitude motors, and jettisoning motors, which are crucial for safely ejecting astronauts from the vehicle in case of an emergency.
- ISRO Chairman S Somnath declared the mission successful, confirming that the objectives were achieved.
- The launch was initially halted due to an anomaly, but the issue was corrected, and the spacecraft lifted off at 10 AM.
- Nine minutes after liftoff, the mission crew module successfully splashed down in the Bay of Bengal, approximately ten kilometers away from Sriharikota.
- The Indian Navy was on standby at the designated location for the recovery of the module.
- Naval divers retrieved the module, and it was taken to a Naval ship.
MCQs
Q.: What organization conducted the successful test of the crew escape system for India’s first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan?
a. NASA
b. ISRO
c. ESA
d. Roscosmos
Ans : b. ISRO
Q.: Where did the mission crew module splash down after the test?
a. Indian Ocean
b. Arabian Sea
c. Bay of Bengal
d. Andaman Sea
Ans : c. Bay of Bengal
