Explanation | What is the Gaganyaan Mission? Meaning, launch date, other details

A single-stage liquid-propulsion rocket equipped with a Crew Module and Crew Escape System will be launched at 8 a.m. Saturday.

The test vehicle mission aims to study the safety of the crew module and crew escape system while returning Indian astronauts to Earth during the eventual Gaganyaan mission.

Everything you need to know about ISRO’s ambitious Gaganyaan mission:

Under the Gaganyaan mission, ISRO will send three people to a 400 km orbit for a three-day mission and return them safely to Earth.

Crew training for Gaganyaan

The Bengaluru-based Astronaut Training Facility provides classroom training, physical fitness training, simulator training and flight suit training.

What is the launch of TV-D1?

On Saturday, ISRO would attempt a successful launch of its Test Vehicle – Demonstration (TV-D1), the single-stage liquid-propulsion rocket. The test vehicle mission with this crew module is an important milestone for the overall Gaganyaan program, as a nearly complete system has been integrated for the test.

The success of this test flight would pave the way for the remaining qualification tests and unmanned missions, leading to the first Gaganyaan program.

Test Vehicle Abort Mission (TV-D1) will launch the crew escape system and crew module at an altitude of 17 km, which is expected to make a safe landing in the sea, about 10 km from Sriharikota on the east coast of India. They would later be picked up by the Navy from the Bay of Bengal. With this campaign, scientists want to guarantee the safety of the crew who would actually be sent in the crew module on an LVM-3 rocket during the Gaganyaan mission.

Gaganyaan project

The Gaganyaan project, named after the Sanskrit word for airborne vessel or vehicle, was developed at the expense of ₹90 billion. If successful, India will become only the fourth country to send a human into space after the Soviet Union, the US and China.

Also read: Gaganyaan Mission Test Flight: When, Where to Watch, What’s Expected? Look here

If today’s test goes as planned, Isro will send a humanoid – a robot that resembles a human – on an unmanned Gaganyaan spacecraft next year. Named Vyommitra – the Sanskrit word for ‘space friend’ – the female humanoid was unveiled by Isro in 2019.

Indian Rakesh Sharma spent 21 days and 40 minutes in space on a Russian spacecraft in 1984.

“Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp channels 🚀 Register today by clicking on the link and stay informed of the latest financial insights!” Click here!

Updated: Oct 21, 2023 07:43 IST