The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for a significant milestone in its Gaganyaan programme with the test vehicle development flight (TV-D1) scheduled for launch on October 21 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This mission marks a crucial step in the preparation for the country’s ambitious human spaceflight mission, which is expected to take place next year.
According to S Somanath, the chairman of ISRO and Secretary of the Department of Space, the TV-D1 test flight will primarily focus on testing the crew module that will house Indian astronauts during the upcoming human spaceflight. The Gaganyaan project aims to demonstrate India’s capabilities in human spaceflight by sending a human crew to an orbit of 400 km and safely bringing them back to earth, with a planned splashdown in the Indian sea waters.
Following the TV-D1 mission, ISRO has outlined plans for three additional test vehicle missions, named D2, D3, and D4, under the Gaganyaan programme. The space agency emphasizes the importance of conducting thorough tests throughout the test flight sequence to ensure the safety and success of future missions.
In a recent announcement by Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh, it was confirmed that ISRO would initiate a series of test flights before the maiden Gaganyaan mission, with the first test scheduled for October 21 at Sriharikota.
During his visit to Madurai, Somanath also provided updates on the Aditya-L1 programme, India’s maiden solar mission. He expressed optimism that the spacecraft would reach the Lagrange point (L1) in mid-January 2024, enabling various scientific experiments to be conducted from that vantage point.
Discussing the setting up of a new launch pad in Kulasekarapattinam, Tuticorin district, Somanath highlighted the benefits of the additional launch pad, particularly for smaller satellite launch vehicles and private players. With the acquisition process underway, ISRO anticipates the completion of the launch pad within the next two years, a development that is expected to enhance the country’s capabilities in space exploration and satellite launch endeavors.
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2023-10-18 12:33:49.0
Expanding Horizons: ISRO’s Plan For Additional Gaganyaan Vehicle Mission Tests
