Gaganyaan Mission: ISRO’s Test Vehicle Mission a Success in Preparation for Human Space Flight Program
Admin Sriharikota, October 21, 2023: It was a day of high tensions and eventual relief for ISRO scientists at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, as a crucial test flight for the Gaganyaan mission overcame initial delays and glitches before accomplishing its objectives.
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The unmanned test vehicle TV-D1 was scheduled for launch early this morning today but faced multiple postponements due to technical issues. Concerns heightened when the engine failed to ignite on the first attempt.
However, the ISRO team kept their cool and went into a huddle to identify and resolve the problems. Their perseverance paid off, as 75 minutes after the aborted first try, TV-D1 roared into the skies flawlessly.
The rocket performed as planned, completing the successful testing of the crew escape system and separation of the crew module – two key milestones for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. Loud cheers and smiles erupted at the Mission Control Center as the scientists celebrated the fruitful mission.
Despite the initial hiccups, ISRO demonstrated their trademark resilience to deliver when it truly mattered. The success of today’s trial brings the ambitious Gaganyaan program one step closer to sending Indian astronauts into space, planned between 2023-2024. It was a tense but rewarding day for the ISRO team.
