ISRO Completes Major Development Milestones for Gaganyaan Mission: Centre
New Delhi, July 29 (TNT): The Union government on Wednesday said the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has completed major development activities for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, including the qualification of the human-rated launch vehicle, orbital module systems, crew escape system and key ground infrastructure, while preparations are underway for the first uncrewed mission.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Space Dr. Jitendra Singh said the development and ground testing of all propulsion stages and structures of the Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3) have been completed.
He said propulsion systems for the Crew Module and Service Module have been developed, tested and qualified.
An engineering model of the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) has been realised, while the deceleration system, Crew Module Uprighting System, Thermal Protection System and end-to-end avionics have also been developed and tested.
According to the Union minister, all five types of motors for the Crew Escape System (CES) have been developed and successfully undergone static testing, while all associated structures have been realised and qualified.
He said critical infrastructure, including the Orbital Module Preparation Facility, Gaganyaan Control Centre, crew training facility and modifications to the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, have been completed to support crewed missions.
The Union minister said the first test vehicle mission (TV-D1) validating the Crew Escape System during flight was successfully completed, along with two Integrated Air Drop Tests for validating the Crew Module’s deceleration system.
Preparations for the TV-D2 mission are at an advanced stage, the Union Minister informed in the House.
Ground communication networks have been finalised, feeder stations under the Indian Data Relay Satellite System (IDRSS-1) have been established and agreements signed with international space agencies for mission support. Recovery assets and recovery plans for crewed missions have also been finalised, he added.
Dr. Singh said the four selected Gaganyatris have completed generic astronaut training at Glavkosmos in Russia and are currently undergoing mission-specific training at the Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru.
Preparations for the first uncrewed Gaganyaan G1 mission are progressing, with all stages of the HLVM3 and Crew Escape System motors ready.
Assembly, integration and testing of the Crew Module and Service Module are nearing completion, while integrated simulations are underway.
The union minister said the indigenously developed Environmental Control and Life Support System, which will maintain a habitable environment inside the Crew Module by regulating temperature, humidity, pressure and carbon dioxide levels, is undergoing development tests.
A reduced version of the system will be demonstrated during the uncrewed Gaganyaan missions.
TNT KM
