The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully carried out a key parachute test for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, marking another milestone in India's efforts to safely return astronauts to Earth.
ISRO announced that it conducted the Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Test (IMAT-05) at the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) drop zone in Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh.
The objective of the test was to validate the performance of the main parachute system, which is responsible for slowing the Gaganyaan crew module before its splashdown in the sea.
The parachute system is a critical safety component of the mission. After re-entering Earth's atmosphere at extremely high speeds, the crew module will rely on a precisely timed sequence of parachutes to reduce its descent to a safe landing speed.
The Gaganyaan crew module's deceleration system comprises 10 parachutes of four different types. The sequence begins with two Apex Cover Separation parachutes, which detach the protective cover from the parachute compartment. These are followed by two Drogue parachutes that stabilise the module and reduce its speed.
Once the crew module is adequately stabilised, three Pilot parachutes are deployed to extract three Main parachutes. These larger parachutes provide the final stage of deceleration, slowing the capsule sufficiently for a safe splashdown in the ocean, where recovery teams will retrieve the astronauts.
For the latest trial, engineers dropped a simulated main parachute assembly attached to a dummy payload from an altitude of 2.5 kilometres using an Indian Air Force IL-76 transport aircraft.
The sequence began with the deployment of an extractor parachute, which released a drogue parachute to stabilise the payload. After the desired flight conditions were achieved, the main parachute deployed successfully, reducing the payload's speed to a safe terminal velocity.
Gaganyaan mission
According to ISRO, the test was designed to qualify the structural integrity of the main parachute and verify its design margins under the maximum expected load conditions that could arise during the first uncrewed Gaganyaan G1 mission.
The successful trial marks the fifth Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Test (IMAT-05) conducted as part of the qualification campaign. ISRO said the outcome reinforces confidence in the performance and reliability of the main parachute system ahead of the G1 mission.
The exercise was carried out through the joint efforts of ISRO, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army, reflecting the multi-agency collaboration supporting India's first human spaceflight programme.
The G1 mission, which will be the first uncrewed test flight under the Gaganyaan programme, is intended to validate critical systems before Indian astronauts are sent into orbit. The parachute system will serve as one of the mission's final safety mechanisms, ensuring the crew module returns safely to Earth.
