Gaganyaan test flight successfully lifts off; test vehicle launched, crew module detached

SRIHARIKOTA: Gaganyaan's first space test mission, a mission to put an Indian in space, has started. The test vehicle was launched. The crew module was separated from the rocket.

The test launch of the crew escape system, which was scheduled to take place at 8 in the morning, was postponed due to a technical problem. Then a little while ago the experiment started again.

‘Test Vehicle Abort Mission (TV D1) failed to lift off today. The launch scheduled for 8 am was postponed to 8.45 due to inclement weather. The automatic launch system to lift the rocket started smoothly. However, the ignition for the launch did not go smoothly. This forced the launch to be aborted five seconds before the scheduled lift-off,’ ISRO chairman Somnath said earlier.

This is the first test of the crew escape system, a system that brings travelers to Earth safely in the event of an accident after the manned spacecraft reaches space.

Tested today are the single stage liquid rocket, Crew Module (CM) and Crew Escape System (CES) developed for the mission. Trials of the drogue parachute, a part of the crew escape system, were completed at Chandigarh in August, two trials of the Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) and a trial of the Service Module Propulsion System were completed at Mahendragiri in July. Gaganyaan will be launched in 2025.