Gaganyaan mission: Liftoff of TV-D1 test flight from Sriharikota successful after tech glitch

Gaganyaan Mission Live

India's space agency, ISRO, achieved a significant milestone as it successfully launched the first in a series of test flights for the Gaganyaan human space mission. The Gaganyaan spacecraft, designed to take astronauts into space, was scheduled for liftoff at 8 am local time from Sriharikota but faced delays due to adverse weather conditions. Eventually, it launched at 10:00 am after resolving technical issues.

The test, named the Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1), aimed to demonstrate the crew's ability to safely escape the rocket in case of a malfunction. ISRO Chairman S Somanath expressed his satisfaction with the mission's success, paving the way for future unmanned missions, including sending a robot into space next year.

India's Gaganyaan project, with a budget of 90 billion rupees (approximately $1 billion), is set to send astronauts into a 400km orbit and safely return them after a three-day mission. If successful, India will join the exclusive ranks of countries capable of human spaceflight, alongside the Soviet Union, the U.S., and China.

Also Read: Gaganyaan test flight on October 21: What will happen? Where to watch?

The TV-D1 mission's launch was initially delayed by 45 minutes due to weather-related issues. Shortly before the scheduled launch, the ground computer detected an anomaly, leading to a brief hold. Fortunately, the issue was quickly identified and corrected.

Key to the success of this mission was the "crew escape system (CES)," which ensures the crew's safety in case of a rocket malfunction. The system would move the crew at least 2 km away from the malfunctioning rocket to keep them safe.

After launch, the module descended using a series of parachutes to achieve a safe splashdown in the Bay of Bengal, approximately 10 km from the Sriharikota coast. The Indian Navy was on standby with a ship and a team of divers to recover the module safely.

ISRO's website reported that the module was equipped with cameras and instruments to collect valuable data and images to aid future tests and the final Gaganyaan mission.

With the TV-D1 mission successfully completed, ISRO plans to send an unmanned Gaganyaan spacecraft, including a humanoid robot called Vyommitra, into space next year. The robot, named after the Sanskrit word for "space friend," will play a crucial role in testing the spacecraft's systems.

Also Read: Chandrayaan-3: How India’s Moon Mission with a modest budget stands apart

India's ambitions in space have gained momentum in recent years. The country made history by becoming the first to land near the Moon's south pole in August 2023. It also launched the Aditya-L1 mission, its first observation mission to the Sun. With plans to establish a space station by 2035 and send an astronaut to the Moon by 2040, India is taking significant steps in its space exploration journey.

Saturday's test generated substantial interest, showcasing India's growing capabilities in the field of space exploration and human spaceflight. While other countries have had a head start in human spaceflight, India's endeavors represent a promising future in space exploration.

Also read: Gaganyaan mission: ISRO reschedules launch of test vehicle mission by 30 minutes