Gaganyaan mission’s: The Integrated AirDrop Test Crew Module (IADT-CM), crafted from aluminum and steel, designed to safeguard astronauts during the pivotal air drop test of the Gaganyaan mission, has been delivered to R. Hutton, Acting Director of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Human Space Flight Center. It was manufactured at KCP Heavy Engineering in Tamil Nadu’s Thiruvottiyur.
The IADT-CM, with a diameter of approximately 3.1 meters and a height of 2.6 meters, is composed of an aluminum and steel alloy. It will serve the purpose of showcasing technology readiness levels ahead of the Human Space Flight Mission.
Hutton emphasized the significance of this test, marking it as a critical assessment of Gaganyaan’s diverse systems. The primary aim is to validate the functionality of parachute systems, which involves deploying various types of parachutes at distinct altitudes and times. The Crew Module will be integral in evaluating the entire parachute system, with both standard and non-standard tests designed by our in-house committee. In certain cases, the module will undergo multiple uses until the desired objectives are met,” Hutton explained.
He further explained that during re-entry, the crew module will be traveling at a rapid speed of 7.4 km/sec. To safely bring it back to Earth, the velocity must be significantly reduced using parachutes.
Hutton elaborated, “The initial velocity reduction takes place as the module enters the Earth’s atmosphere, a process known as aerobraking. This phase will experience the highest heat flux. Parachutes will be deployed at a lower altitude of 7 km to further reduce velocity, and the touchdown speed will be approximately 8.5 m/sec, which falls within the crew’s physiological limits.” Hutton also noted that Heat Insulation Tiles would be incorporated into the re-entering crew module to ensure thermal protection.
On the same day, Isro announced its plans to initiate unmanned flight tests for the Gaganyaan mission. The abort test for India’s inaugural human spaceflight endeavor is expected to occur later this month. Isro stated, “Preparations are in progress for the Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1), which aims to showcase the Crew Escape System’s capabilities.
