In a crucial series of tests between August 8-10, 2023, the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, part of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), marked significant progress for its ambitious Gaganyaan mission. These experiments, held at the state-of-the-art Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility in the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh, were realized in association with the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), a wing of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Gaganyaan, ISRO's much-anticipated mission, is about safely ferrying astronauts to outer space and ensuring their secure return to Earth. An integral aspect of this mission lies in the precise deployment of drogue parachutes. These specialized parachutes are instrumental in both stabilizing the astronaut crew module and decelerating its speed, ensuring that it reaches a safe velocity during the critical phase of re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere.

These parachutes are no ordinary designs. Nestled within specially designed pyro-based devices, known as mortars, these drogue parachutes are carefully constructed to launch into the atmosphere on command. Featuring a unique conical ribbon design and spanning an impressive 5.8 meters in diameter, they utilize a single-stage reefing system. This inventive design not only restricts the canopy area but also attenuates the initial jolt when deployed, ensuring the crew module descends in a controlled and gentle manner.

The comprehensive tests at the RTRS facility meticulously replicated a spectrum of real-world scenarios, thoroughly assessing the drogue parachutes' performance and robustness. The first experiment delved into simulating the maximum reefed load, setting a new benchmark by integrating reefing into a mortar-deployed parachute, a first-of-its-kind feat in India. The subsequent tests investigated the performance of the parachutes under maximum disreefed load and circumstances replicating the maximum angle of attack the Crew Module might encounter during its voyage.

Achieving success in these RTRS tests stands as a significant validation phase for the drogue parachutes, indicating their preparedness to be incorporated into the upcoming Test Vehicle-D1 mission. Earlier in the year, the RTRS facility witnessed tests for the Pilot and Apex cover separation parachutes, further underlining the steadfast advancements in the parachute systems pivotal to the Gaganyaan mission.

The Gaganyaan mission's intricate parachute deployment mechanism comprises a sequence of ten distinct parachutes. Initiating with the release of two Apex cover separation parachutes, it progresses with stabilization through the launch of two drogue parachutes. Subsequent to the drogues' release, the system initiates the extraction phase. Here, three individual Pilot chutes play a critical role, each extracting one of the three main parachutes. This methodical sequence ensures the Crew Module's velocity is tempered to safe thresholds, paving the way for a safe touchdown.

Gaganyaan: India's Forefront in Human Spaceflight Mission

The Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) stands at the helm of the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) ambitious Gaganyaan programme. With its primary objective to navigate the Gaganyaan mission, HSFC seeks to centralize and streamline all space activities undertaken across various ISRO centers, research establishments across India, educational institutions, and industries. The vision is clear - realizing a successful human spaceflight mission. HSFC's focus revolves around ensuring top-tier reliability and the highest standards of human safety. It pioneers research and development in innovative technology segments like life support systems, bioastronautics, and human factors engineering. Delving into these spheres is vital as they form the foundation for future extensive human space activities, encompassing aspects like space station constructions, collaborations for manned Moon or Mars missions, and potential explorations of near-earth asteroids.

The Gaganyaan Mission Unveiled | The Gaganyaan mission is monumental. Its core aim is to demonstrate India's prowess in human spaceflight by sending a three-member crew into a 400 km orbit for three days and then ensuring their safe return to Earth with a landing in Indian territorial waters. Achieving this is no small feat. It demands pooling together a wealth of expertise from ISRO's rich legacy, tapping into the innovative potential of India's academic and research fraternity, harnessing the capabilities of the national industry, and also leveraging state-of-the-art international technologies.

Several critical technologies are being developed as foundational pillars for the Gaganyaan mission. From a human-rated launch vehicle ensuring the crew's safe journey into space, life support systems offering Earth-like ambience in outer space, to provisions for crew emergency escape, and comprehensive training and management protocols for crew recovery and rehabilitation - the Gaganyaan mission encompasses it all.

To ensure utmost preparedness, ISRO has planned a slew of precursor missions. These are aimed at validating the readiness of the technologies, which include the Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT), Pad Abort Test (PAT), and Test Vehicle (TV) flights. Every system's safety and reliability will be stringently tested in unmanned missions before embarking on the manned journey.

A Closer Look: The Human-rated LVM3 - HLVM3

ISRO's trusted and proven heavy-lift launcher, the LVM3 rocket, is the chosen vehicle for the Gaganyaan mission. The rocket is a marvel, with its solid stage, liquid stage, and cryogenic stage. Every system in the LVM3 is meticulously re-configured to align with the human rating prerequisites. This refurbished version is aptly named Human Rated LVM3 or HLVM3. Its mission is clear - safely propel the Orbital Module into a Low Earth Orbit of 400 km.

HLVM3's innovative design incorporates the Crew Escape System (CES). This system, powered by rapidly reacting solid motors, ensures the Crew Module and its occupants are swiftly moved to safety during any emergency, whether it's at the launch pad or during the ascent phase.

The Orbital Module (OM), which will be circling the Earth, consists of two integral parts: the Crew Module (CM) and the Service Module (SM). The CM is designed as a comfortable habitation for the crew in space. Double-walled, it comprises a pressurized metallic inner structure and an external structure equipped with a Thermal Protection System (TPS). The SM, on the other hand, supports the CM in orbit, housing systems like thermal, propulsion, power, and avionics.

Pioneering New Technologies | Human safety is the cornerstone of the Gaganyaan mission. In line with this, ISRO is on the path of innovating and introducing a plethora of new technologies. These span both engineering systems and those centered around human needs.

Training India's Spacefarers | Bengaluru houses a state-of-the-art Astronaut Training Facility. Here, future astronauts undergo comprehensive training - from academic courses, physical fitness regimes, to specialized training on flight procedures and simulators. The curriculum is vast, encompassing Gaganyaan flight systems, understanding micro-gravity via parabolic flights, aero-medical training, and even yoga, ensuring India's astronauts are the best-prepared spacefarers.