The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is stepping up efforts to enhance the safety of astronauts in its upcoming Gaganyaan mission with crucial tests on the crew module’s stability during splashdown in the sea. This decision follows an incident on October 21, during the TV-D1 mission, when the crew module experienced unexpected orientation issues during recovery in the Bay of Bengal.
To address this challenge, ISRO is preparing for the second test mission (TV-D2) scheduled for the next year. This will precede the comprehensive unmanned test flight into space for the crew module, using the LVM3 rocket as part of the Gaganyaan mission. A critical system to be tested is the “uprighting system,” designed to prevent the crew module from overturning after splashdown. The mechanism is likened to gaseous balloons or airbags in cars, and it will deploy in the event of the crew module tilting, restoring it to an upright position.
The TV-D1 mission uncovered stability challenges, especially in the presence of lateral winds and sea wave disturbances, prompting the need for such a corrective system. The crew module will also feature redundancy systems to ensure the primary uprighting system’s functionality, recovery aids, and successful marking of the landing region.
The next test vehicle mission, scheduled for the first quarter of the coming year, will simulate various conditions, including crew seat systems, suspension systems, and the performance of the uprighting system. The crew escape system will also incorporate both low and high altitude escape motors, distinguishing it from the TV-D1 mission.
The upcoming TV-D2 mission will test a crew module more closely resembling the final design, with a focus on simulating critical elements such as crew seats, control systems, and floatation systems. This marks a crucial step forward in ISRO’s preparations for the historic Gaganyaan mission. This comes at a time when ISRO is leaving no stone unturned to ensure mission success.
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