ISRO Successfully Launches Gaganyaan’s Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1

October 25, 2023 09:55 pm | Updated October 27, 2023 10:01 am IST – THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

ISRO successfully launched the Gaganyaan’s Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
| Photo Credit: ANI

After the successful Test Vehicle-D1 (TV-D1) mission on October 21, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has lined up more test missions in the months ahead for the Gaganyaan programme.

Significance

The successful launch of the Gaganyaan’s Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 marks a significant milestone in India’s human spaceflight program. It demonstrates ISRO’s capability to safely abort a mission in case of emergencies, ensuring the safety of future crewed missions.

Features

The Gaganyaan’s Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 utilized a crew module with a service module. The mission also featured ‘Vyommitra,’ a female robot astronaut designed by the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU). The mission aimed to test control systems, a reduced version of the life support system, thermal protection systems, and parachute systems.

Objectives

The objectives of the Gaganyaan’s Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 were to demonstrate the capability to abort a mission in-flight, test various systems critical for crewed missions, and evaluate the performance of the crew module and its recovery systems.

Effects

The successful launch of the test vehicle demonstrates India’s growing capabilities in space exploration and human spaceflight. It boosts the country’s reputation in the global space community and opens up possibilities for future crewed missions and collaborations.

Pros and Cons

The successful mission highlights the technical prowess and progress of ISRO in the field of human spaceflight. However, challenges and risks associated with crewed missions, such as ensuring the safety and well-being of astronauts, managing mission costs, and addressing technical complexities, need to be carefully evaluated and addressed.

Fun Fact: The Gaganyaan’s Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 featured ‘Vyommitra,’ a humanoid robot designed to simulate crew activities and monitor environmental parameters during future crewed missions. It is the first humanoid to be sent to space by ISRO.

Mutiple Choice Questions

1. What is the purpose of the Gaganyaan’s Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1)?
a) To test the life support system for the crew
b) To demonstrate in-flight abort capability
c) To test control systems and thermal protection systems
d) To launch the robot astronaut Vyommitra

Explanation: The purpose of the Gaganyaan’s Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) is to demonstrate in-flight abort capability under different initial conditions with respect to the launch vehicle.

2. What is the upcoming test mission for the Gaganyaan programme?
a) TV-D2 mission
b) G-X unmanned orbital demonstration flight
c) Pad Abort Test
d) Integrated Air-Drop Test (IADT)

Explanation: The upcoming test missions for the Gaganyaan programme include the TV-D2 mission, the G-X unmanned orbital demonstration flight, an Integrated Air-Drop Test (IADT), and a Pad Abort Test.

3. What is the purpose of the G-X unmanned orbital demonstration flight?
a) To test the parachute systems
b) To test the control systems
c) To test the life support system for the crew
d) To put the control systems and thermal protection systems to the test

Explanation: The purpose of the G-X unmanned orbital demonstration flight is to put the control systems, a “reduced version” of the life support system for the crew, thermal protection systems, and the parachute systems to the test.

4. What is the name of the robot astronaut designed and developed by the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU)?
a) Vyommitra
b) Gaganyaan
c) ISRO-1
d) TV-D1

Explanation: The name of the robot astronaut designed and developed by the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) is Vyommitra.

5. What is the purpose of the Test Vehicle-D1 (TV-D1) mission?
a) To demonstrate in-flight abort capability
b) To test the parachute systems
c) To launch the G-X unmanned orbital demonstration flight
d) To test the crew module with service module

Explanation: The purpose of the Test Vehicle-D1 (TV-D1) mission is to demonstrate in-flight abort capability.

Brief Summary | UPSC – IAS

The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Gaganyaan programme, which aims to send humans to space, has successfully completed its first test mission. ISRO has planned a series of upcoming tests, including the TV-D2 mission, an unmanned orbital demonstration flight, an Integrated Air-Drop Test, and a Pad Abort Test. The G-X mission, which will feature the ‘female’ robot astronaut Vyommitra, will test control systems, a reduced version of the life support system, thermal protection systems, and parachute systems. ISRO is also considering reusing the crew module from the first test mission for future tests after a thorough inspection and cleaning.