Context:
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) for the Gaganyaan mission at Sriharikota. The test validated the parachute-based recovery system of the crew module, marking progress towards India’s first human spaceflight mission.
- Gaganyaan is India’s first human spaceflight programme, aiming to send astronauts (Gagannauts) into Low Earth Orbit (LEO ~400 km) for about 3 days.
- The Crew Module is the pressurized capsule where astronauts stay during launch, orbit, and re-entry.
- The Integrated Air Drop Test involves dropping a simulated crew module from an aircraft/helicopter to test parachute deployment and safe splashdown in the sea.
- Multiple parachutes (main, drogue, pilot) are deployed in sequence to reduce velocity during descent, a critical safety feature in human spaceflight.
- Earlier IADT-01 (2025) validated initial systems; IADT-02 confirms improved reliability of deceleration and recovery mechanisms.
- Gaganyaan mission will use LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3), India’s heaviest rocket, capable of carrying heavy payloads to space.
- India will become the 4th country after USA, Russia, and China to send humans to space independently if the mission succeeds.
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