ISRO's Marvel: First Crew Module Takes Shape for Gaganyaan Test Flight

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) reaches a significant milestone in the Gaganyaan program as the Crew Module for the Test Vehicle Abort mission-1 (TV-D1) enters its final stages of preparation.

The Crew Module (CM),a vital component of the upcoming Gaganyaan mission, is where astronauts will be housed in a pressurized, Earth-like atmospheric condition. The CM for TV-D1, designed to simulate an abort scenario, has reached a crucial phase in its development. It is an unpressurized version and has successfully completed integration and testing, making it ready for shipment to the launch complex.

Despite being unpressurized, this CM version mirrors the size and mass of the actual Gaganyaan CM. It houses all the essential systems for deceleration and recovery, including a comprehensive set of parachutes, recovery aids actuation systems, and pyrotechnics. The avionics systems within the CM are configured in a dual-redundant mode, ensuring reliability for navigation, sequencing, telemetry, instrumentation, and power. To evaluate the performance of various systems, the CM for this mission is extensively instrumented. Following touchdown in the Bay of Bengal, the Crew Module will be recovered using a dedicated vessel and diving team from the Indian Navy.

The Test Vehicle Abort mission-1 (TV-D1) is the first development flight of a single-stage liquid rocket designed for this specific abort scenario. Payloads include the Crew Module (CM) and Crew Escape Systems (CES) with their fast-acting solid motors, along with the CM fairing (CMF) and Interface Adapters. This flight will simulate an abort condition during the ascent trajectory corresponding to a Mach number of 1.2, replicating conditions encountered in the Gaganyaan mission. At an altitude of approximately 17 km, CES with CM will separate from the Test Vehicle, initiating an autonomous abort sequence, including the deployment of a series of parachutes and culminating in the safe landing of the CM in the sea, approximately 10 km off the coast of Sriharikota.

The Crew Module, after integration, underwent various electrical tests at ISRO's facility in Bengaluru, including an acoustic test, before being dispatched to SDSC-SHAR on August 13th. At SDSC-SHAR, it will undergo vibration tests and pre-integration with the Crew Escape System before final integration onto the Test Vehicle at the Launch Pad.

This Test Vehicle mission, featuring the Crew Module, represents a significant milestone in the Gaganyaan program. It marks the integration of a near-complete system for a flight test. The success of this test flight will set the stage for the remaining qualification tests and unmanned missions, ultimately leading to the historic first Gaganyaan mission with Indian astronauts. ISRO's continued progress in space exploration is indeed a source of pride for the nation.