Gaganyaan Mission: A Leap Towards the Stars
 

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has always been known for its ambitious and groundbreaking projects. After the successful missions of Chandrayaan and Suryaan, ISRO is now gearing up for its next big venture - the Gaganyaan mission.




The Test Flight

On Saturday, 21st October 2023, ISRO conducted the first in a series of crucial tests for the Gaganyaan mission. This test flight, although conducted years before the actual mission in 2025, holds significant importance. The test was initially postponed due to technical reasons but was successfully carried out in the second attempt.

The Importance of Testing

The primary reason behind these tests is to ensure the safety of the crew. ISRO aims to demonstrate that in the event of a rocket malfunction, the crew can escape safely. The success of these tests will pave the way for other unmanned missions, including sending robots into space next year.

 

The Gaganyaan Mission

The Gaganyaan mission is a manned mission that aims to send three astronauts into low Earth orbit. However, this will only happen after the successful completion of all preliminary tests. As announced by the government last week, this is likely to happen in 2025.

 The Gaganyaan project has been developed at a cost of ₹90 billion ($1 billion; £897 million). Its goal is to send astronauts to a 400 km (248 mi) orbit and return three days later. If successful, India will become the fourth country after the Soviet Union, America, and China to send humans into space.

 

ISRO Chief on Gaganyaan Mission

ISRO Chief S Somnath has stated that they are testing the "Crew Escape System (CES)" of the spacecraft. He described it as "a very important system". He further explained that if something happens to the rocket, they should be able to keep the crew safe by moving them at least 2 km (1.2 mi) away from the exploding rocket. After takeoff, as soon as the rocket is 12 km to 16 km in the sky, the parachute will open. The abort system will then be activated to take the crew away from it.

In conclusion, while we eagerly await the launch of Gaganyaan in 2025, these preliminary tests are crucial steps towards ensuring a successful and safe mission.