Gaganyaan: First abort test moves a step closer; Isro receives simulated crew module structure assembly | India News – Times of India

BENGALURU: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has moved one step closer to conducting an abort test using the special test vehicle (TV) as part of Gaganyaan with the space agency having received the Simulated Crew Module (SCM) Structure Assembly.
This first indigenous simulated crew module is developed by VSSC and realised by Manjira Machine Builders, Hyderabad.
“This is an unpressurised crew module where the interfaces of major systems like parachute systems and pyros are simulated. This module will be used for various missions like test vehicle missions where the crew escape system will be validated along with various crew module subsystems,” Isro said.
Isro added that the shape and outside mould line of the SCM is also simulated as per the crewed mission configuration. For the crewed mission, the crew module is a pressurised capsule and accommodates the astronauts during the Gaganyaan mission.
“This (the SCM delivered to Isro) will be flying as part of the first test vehicle mission. The test vehicle is already at SHAR (spaceport) and activities are being carried out,” S Unnikrishnan Nair, director, VSSC, which has developed the test vehicle, told STOI.
While Nair did not specify a timeline for the said mission given the complexities involved, multiple Isro officials said the agency is targeting it for the first half of this year. “Timelines cannot be sacrosanct in missions like this. This is the first time the country is attempting something like this and there are a lot of systems that are new,” one of them said.
The first abort test using the special test vehicle (TV) as part of Gaganyaan will see the simulated crew module separate from the TV at a height of around 11km (from sea level), attain an altitude of around 15km before falling back to back in the Bay of Bengal.
The test — TV technology demonstrator-1 (TV-TD1) mission — which is tentatively planned for the first half of this year, will be the first of several such tests Isro plans to conduct before the first uncrewed mission under Gaganyaan.
As per Isro plans, the vehicle will be taken to around 11km approximately and then from there, the crew module will go up to about 15-16km and then come down. Isro will demonstrate the coming down, descent phase, parachute deployment and recovery.
Another scientist explained that at the altitude of about 11km — the final mission profile will be made public at a later stage — the crew module will separate from the vehicle, escape from the trajectory of the vehicle, and then drop back.
During the mission, the ground team at Sriharikota will do the tracking. Once separated/ejected from the TV, the module will have a free fall — essentially demonstrating the crew escape system in an in-flight abort scenario.
This means navigation and guidance, control systems and parachutes will be demonstrated. A success in this will give Isro the confidence to expedite a lot of other processes.