ISRO Successfully Conducts Critical Parachute Test for Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Mission

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently conducted a crucial parachute test as part of the preparations for India’s first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan. The test, held on November 3, focused on verifying the stability and reliability of the Gaganyaan crew module in the event of a delayed deployment of one of its main parachutes. Ensuring the parachute system functions correctly under non-standard conditions is critical to guaranteeing the safety of astronauts during descent and landing.

For the experiment, ISRO employed an IL-76 aircraft from the Indian Air Force, which carried a 7.2-tonne capsule mass simulator, also referred to as a dummy capsule. The aircraft took off from the Babina Field Firing Range in Uttar Pradesh and released the capsule from an altitude of 2.5 kilometers. Upon release, the sequence for the deployment of the Gaganyaan parachute system was triggered. This test was designed to replicate challenging conditions that the crew module might encounter during an actual mission, including asymmetric loads and partial deployment scenarios.

The Gaganyaan crew module is equipped with a sophisticated parachute system consisting of 10 chutes, each designed for specific functions. Two chutes are responsible for detaching the protective cover of the compartment. Two drogue chutes stabilize the capsule and reduce its speed, while three pilot chutes deploy the three main parachutes, which handle the majority of the deceleration required for a safe landing. The main parachutes are deployed through a carefully sequenced process, culminating in “disreefing,” the complete inflation of the parachute, which initially opens partially or in a reefed configuration. Importantly, the parachute system is designed with redundancy, meaning that even if only two of the three main parachutes function properly, a safe landing can still be ensured.

During the November 3 test, ISRO deliberately simulated a “non-standard” condition by deploying only two of the main parachutes and applying asymmetric loads to assess the system’s structural integrity and load distribution under challenging circumstances. According to ISRO officials, this scenario represents one of the most critical conditions likely to occur during an actual crewed mission. The results of the test were highly encouraging. The parachute system deployed as intended, the sequence was executed flawlessly, and the test article achieved a stable descent and soft landing. ISRO reported that the test validated the robustness and reliability of the parachute design, marking a significant milestone in qualifying the system for human spaceflight.

Looking ahead, several major milestones remain before India’s first crewed Gaganyaan mission to low Earth orbit. ISRO plans to conduct three uncrewed test flights of the crew module, each carrying Vyomitra, a half-humanoid robot designed to gather data. The name Vyomitra translates to “space friend” in Sanskrit. These uncrewed missions will further validate the performance of the crew module, parachute system, and onboard systems, ensuring that all safety parameters are met before a human mission is attempted.

In summary, the successful completion of the November 3 parachute test represents a critical step in the Gaganyaan mission, demonstrating the preparedness and technological capabilities of ISRO. The agency continues to advance systematically through tests and milestones to ensure that India’s first human spaceflight is both safe and successful, with a robust parachute system playing a central role in ensuring a safe return to Earth.