The countdown for the first Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) on Saturday to demonstrate the crew escape system of the Indian rocket that would carry its astronauts to the space will begin at 8 a.m. on Friday, a senior Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) official said.
India plans to orbit its astronauts in space in its own rocket for the first time sometime in 2025 and testing the crew escape system is part of that and the flight of TV-D1 will happen at 8 a.m. on Saturday, the official told IANS.
This will be the first of the four test flights, said ISRO Chairman S.Somanath.
According to ISRO, the Saturday flight is for flight demonstration and evaluation of test vehicle sub systems; flight demonstration and evaluation of Crew Escape System including various separation systems and crew module characteristics and deceleration systems demonstration at higher altitude and its recovery.
Measuring about 35 tall and weighing about 44 tonne, the test vehicle/rocket uses a modified Vikas engine which is powered by liquid fuel.
The crew module and crew escape system are mounted at the fore end of the rocket.
The entire flight sequence -- from the test rocket’s lift off to the crew module touchdown at the sea with the deployment of parachutes -- will take about 531 seconds or about nine minutes.
According to ISRO, the mass of the crew module is 4,520 kg and is a single walled unpressurised aluminium structure.
At about 60 seconds into the flight and at an altitude of 17 km, the test vehicle and the crew escape system will get separated.
And 91 seconds after the lift off, the crew module and crew escape system will get separated.
Subsequently, the abort sequence will be executed autonomously commencing with the separation of crew escape system and deployment of the series of parachutes, finally culminating in the safe touchdown of the crew module in the sea, about 10 km from the coast of Sriharikota, ISRO said.
The crew module will house the astronauts in a pressurised earthlike atmospheric condition during the real human space mission.
Currently the crew module for the Gaganyaan mission is in different stages of development.
The TV-D1 is an unpressurised version but has an overall size and mass of actual Gaganyaan crew module and would house all the systems for the deceleration and recovery.
The avionics systems in the crew module are in a dual redundant mode configuration for navigation, sequencing, telemetry, instrumentation and power.
According to ISRO, the crew module in this mission is extensively instrumented to capture the flight data for evaluation of the performance of various systems.
The deceleration of the crew module will be done with parachutes with pyro systems.
The parachute deployment initiation will be done when the crew module is at about 17 km altitude.
The crew module will splash down on the sea at about 10 km from the launch pad at Sriharikota at about 531 seconds after the rocket’s lift off and would float till it was recovered by the Indian Navy.
Recovery ships will approach the crew module and a team of divers will attach a buoy, hoist it using a ship crane and bring it to the shore.
The crew escape system will hit the sea at about 14 km from Sriharikota. This Test Vehicle mission with this crew module is a significant milestone for the overall Gaganyaan programme as a near-complete system is integrated for a flight test.
The success of this test flight will set the stage for the remaining qualification tests and unmanned missions, leading to the first Gaganyaan mission with Indian Astronauts, ISRO said.
New Urban Community Health Centre to reduce patients rush in GBP Hospital: CM Dr Manik Saha
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Thursday laid foundation stone of 50-bed Urban Community Health Center here at Agartala and said that the present government is working diligently to improve health infrastructure and services in the state.
Govt determined to develop sports infrastructure in Tripura: CM Dr Manik Saha
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Thursday inaugurated football turf, athletics track and hockey ground here at Agartala Dasarath Deb Sports Complex at Badharghat and said that the government is determined to develop facilities and platform for sports persons in the state.
Mistake that benefits no one: World leaders react to Trump's 'reciprocal tariffs'
As US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on the so-called "reciprocal tariffs," the world reacted sharply against the decision, with some calling it a "mistake that benefits no one" while others called it a violation of Washington's obligations under the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Indian pharmaceutical exports get reprieve from Trump’s reciprocal tariffs
Because of the importance of India’s pharmaceuticals to US healthcare, those exports will get a reprieve from President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, according to the White House.
India stands less impacted by Trump tariffs than global peers: Industry
As US President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on dozens of countries, including India, industry experts said on Thursday that it appears India's export competitiveness to the US market stands far less impacted on a relative basis compared to global peers.
IAF pilot killed, another critical as Jaguar fighter jet crashes in Gujarat
An Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot lost his life, while another sustained critical injuries after their two-seater Jaguar fighter jet crashed near Gujarat's Jamnagar Airfield, the IAF confirmed on Thursday.
PM Modi emplanes for Thailand; to attend BIMSTEC summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday emplaned for Thailand on a state visit to attend the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, with his visit also set to bolster bilateral relations between New Delhi and Bangkok.
Bhavan’s Little Learners celebrate annual programme
The Bhavan’s Little Learners, Bordowali celebrated annual programme and organised prize distribution ceremony here at Agartala Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan on Wednesday.