ISRO Successfully Conducts First Air Drop Test for Gaganyaan Mission

On August 24, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) for the upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. This test validated the parachute-based deceleration system designed to ensure the safe landing of astronauts returning from space.

The test was conducted near Sriharikota and involved collaborative efforts by ISRO, the Indian Air Force, DRDO, the Indian Navy, and the Indian Coast Guard. It aimed to assess the system’s ability to safely decelerate the crew module during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.

Under the Gaganyaan Mission, India plans to send three astronauts into a 400 km low Earth orbit and bring them back safely. This mission will mark India’s first human spaceflight and demonstrate the country's capability to launch and recover crewed missions independently.

The parachute-based system is a critical part of the safety infrastructure and will undergo further tests before the final crewed launch.