- The abort missions are meant to test the systems that can help the crew escape from the spacecraft mid-flight in case of a failure
- For the abort missions, ISRO has developed test vehicles that can send the systems up to a certain height, simulate failure, and then check the escape system
- Escape system is designed with five “quick-acting” solid fuel motors with a high burn rate propulsion system, and fins to maintain stability
- The crew escape system will separate from the crew module by firing explosive nuts
- ISRO’s focus is on perfecting the system that will launch and land Indians on missions to space and to protect the astronauts if the mission fails
- GSLV Mk III, also called the LVM-3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3,) the three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle, will be used to launch Gaganyaan as it has the necessary payload capability
Bangalore, July 1. The first abort mission for India’s maiden human spaceflight ‘Gaganyaan’ would be conducted at the end of August this year, while the unmanned mission to orbit would take place next year, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), S. Somanath said.
The first abort test using the special test vehicle (TV) will see ISRO take the vehicle to a near-supersonic condition before the abort command is executed, putting the crew module (CM) and the crew escape system (CES) in test conditions that may arise during the Gaganyaan mission.
“This particular test takes the vehicle to a near-supersonic condition,that is past Mach-1 [speed of sound] condition.”
“We will abort the mission, ask the CES to trigger the escape process and then the entire chain of events will happen on a short distance,” ISRO Chairman S. Somanath said.
The mission will be the first of several such tests said ISRO Chairman.
ISRO plans to conduct before the first uncrewed mission under Gaganyaan. It is planned for an early August execution.
“For Gaganyaan, the first and foremost thing is that the abort mission has to be done. For that, we have made a new rocket called a test vehicle, which is ready at Sriharikota. Assemblies of the crew module and crew escape system are just getting ready,” Somanath told reporters when asked about the latest update on Gaganyaan.
“So I am informed that this month-end it will go for a fully functional testing, vibration testing, etc. So we are hoping that in August-end or so we will be able to fire the launch of this crew abort mission. Then it will be followed by a repeat mission with different conditions of abort. This is planned for this year,” Somanath added.
(Images Source: ISRO)
