For safety of Gaganyaan crew, ISRO will simulate failure with ‘abort missions’

• Gaganyaan mission: the first step toward an Indian Space Station in the future.

About Abort Mission

• The Pad Abort Test(PAT) demonstrated the safe recovery of the crew module in case of any exigency at the launch pad.
• PAT is a major technology demonstrator and the first in a series of tests to qualify a larger Crew Escape System of the future.
• Nearly 300 sensors recorded various functional aspects. More technology trials related to astronaut safety would be taken up later.
• The escape mechanism activated when it sensed something wrong in the health of the mission or module.
• ISRO will conduct two unmanned “abort missions”, to simulate failure and ensure crew safety as part of its roadmap for Gaganyaan, the country’s first manned flight to space, in 2024.

The Launch Timeline

• The first Test Vehicle for this purpose is ready and will be launched in September this year.
• The second Test Vehicle will be launched in December this year, sent to a greater height and then brought back after a similar simulation is carried out.
• The ISRO chief pointed out that while the main purpose of the Gaganyaan mission is to demonstrate India’s capability, it is also the first step toward an Indian Space Station in the future.

Recent Development

• Recently , ISRO carried out the launch of the HS 200 rocket booster in Sriharikota as a part of the first stage of Gaganyan.
• The HS200 booster, which was 20 m long with a 3.2 m diameter, was loaded with 203 tonnes of solid propellant and tested for a 135-second duration.