ISRO Tests Parachutes to Bring Back Astronauts from Space

Parachutes that would be used to bring back Indian astronauts to earth after their space flight were tested by the ISRO. According to ISRO sources, the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) conducted the “Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Test (IMAT)” at the Babina Field Fire Range (BFFR) in the Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh on November 19.

This test is a major happening of the Gaganyaan mission, India’s much awaited first manned space mission expected to be launched in 2023.

A 5-ton dummy mass representing the Crew module mass of the manned space mission was taken to an altitude of 2.5 kilometres by Indian Air Force’s aircraft. From there it was dropped to the ground. Then two small pyro-based mortar-deployed pilot parachutes and the main parachutes opened up.

This Gaganyaan project’s return to earth plan consists of a total of 10 parachutes. The ISRO has stated that two of the three main chutes are sufficient to land the astronauts on earth.

The recent test simulated the situation when one main parachute fails to open. Similar tests will be conducted to simulate different failure conditions of the parachute system to eradicate all failure possibilities before it is used in the Gaganyaan mission for real.

ISRO will have two test space missions without any crew, before the manned Gaganyaan mission.