ISRO to launch Gaganyaan's test vehicle
ISRO will be launching Test Vehicle (TV-D1), single-stage liquid propulsion rocket, on Saturday marking the first-step towards its ambitious human space flight programme Gaganyaan.
Test vehicle lift-off schedule
The test vehicle is scheduled to lift-off from the first launch pad from Satish Dhawan Space Center at 8 am on October 21. The duration of this test procedure will be 531.8 seconds.
Where to watch?
The TV-D1 test flight launch will be televised on the DD news channel, while ISRO will simultaneously stream the launch on its official website and various social media platforms.
Test vehicle dimensions
The test vehicle is 34.9 metres tall, has a lift-off weight of 44 tonnes and has the equivalent weight to the actual crew module on the Gaganyaan mission.
Gaganyaan's path ahead
The success of this test flight will pave the way for remaining tests and unmanned missions before the first Gaganyaan programme which is expected to materialise in 2025.
Preparing for human mission
The primary objective of this test mission is to ensure the safety of astronauts before ISRO sends humans into space for a three-day Gaganyaan mission on an LVM-3 rocket.
Altitude escape and recovery
Crew Escape Systems and Crew Module will be launched at an altitude of 17 km through the test vehicle before making a safe touchdown in Bay of Bengal which would be later retrieved by Navy.
Preliminary tests on crew module
"The Crew Module after integration underwent various electrical testing, at ISRO’s facility in Bengaluru, including an acoustic test and was dispatched to SDSC-SHAR on 13th August." ISRO informed on X.
Advancing space technologies
Gaganyaan mission necessitates the advancement of vital technologies, including human-rated launch vehicles for safe crew transport to space, life support systems for a terrestrial environment in space and provisions for crew emergency escape.
Gaganyaan's trio missions
Under the Gaganyaan programme, ISRO will send two unmanned missions and one manned mission as sanctioned by the Government of India.
India's first ever human spaceflight
The Gaganyaan Programme aims to demonstrate human spaceflight in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in the short term, establishing the basis for long-term Indian human space exploration.
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