Gaganyaan mission : ISRO successfully launches TV-D1 test flight

Gaganyaan mission: ISRO successfully launches TV-D1 test flight, PM Modi: 'We Are One Step Closer to Human Spaceflight'

PM Modi said that ISRO's successful test launch for the Gaganyaan mission brings India closer to its first human space flight.

In a post on X, he said, "This launch brings us one step nearer to making India's first human space flight program, Gaganyaan, happen. I wish our ISRO scientists the best."

This launch takes us one step closer to realising India’s first human space flight program, Gaganyaan. My best wishes to our scientists at @isro. https://t.co/6MO7QE1k2Z
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 21, 2023

Initially, the launch faced a setback when it was halted at 8:45 a.m. due to an engine ignition issue. However, ISRO managed to carry out the test flight successfully from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 10 a.m. ISRO stated, "Mission Gaganyaan TV D1 Test Flight is completed. The Crew Escape System worked as planned. Mission Gaganyaan begins on a positive note."

After some initial issues, including a monitoring problem, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) effectively launched a test vehicle on Saturday. The payloads are related to India's significant human space flight program, Gaganyaan.

TV D1 Test Flight

Lift-off images pic.twitter.com/oitmEa5Hza
— ISRO (@isro) October 21, 2023

During the recent test, scientists simulated an emergency scenario for the Crew Escape System (CES) to evacuate the Crew Module from the test vehicle, TV-D1. The module splashed down precisely in the Bay of Bengal, leading to celebrations among ISRO scientists at the Mission Control Center.

Today's achievement showcased how the Crew Escape System operates, emphasizing its critical role in ensuring the safety of Indian astronauts.

Moreover, the test flight's objective was to exhibit India's capability for human space travel. The plan involved sending a crew of three individuals into a 400-kilometer orbit for a three-day mission and ensuring their secure return by landing in the Indian Ocean. This initiative forms part of India's goal to dispatch the nation's first astronauts, presently undergoing training, to both space and the Moon by 2025 and 2040, respectively.