• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched a Test Vehicle-Demonstration (TV-D1) with payloads related to the country’s ambitious human space flight programme — Gaganyaan.

• A single-stage liquid propulsion rocket, equipped with a Crew Module and Crew Escape System, lifted-off from the first launch pad at the spaceport in Sriharikota on October 21.

• The scientists simulated an abort situation for the Crew Escape System to carry the Crew Module out of the test vehicle as they made a splash into the Bay of Bengal with planned precision. 

• The TV-D1 mission was aimed at studying the safety of the Crew Module and Crew Escape System in bringing Indian astronauts back to Earth in the eventual Gaganyaan mission.

• Crew Module is where the astronauts are contained in a pressurised Earth-like atmospheric condition during the Gaganyaan mission. 

• It houses the crew interfaces, life support system, avionics, and deceleration systems. It is also designed for re-entry to ensure the safety of the crew during the descent till touchdown.

• The Test Vehicle mission is a significant milestone for the overall Gaganyaan programme as a nearly complete system was integrated for a flight test.

Gaganyaan Mission

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Gaganyaan mission in his Independence Day address in 2018.

• Gaganyaan project envisages demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members to an orbit of 400 km for a three days mission and bring them back safely to Earth, by landing in Indian sea waters.

• For the first human spaceflight, four Indian Air Force pilots have been selected and are undergoing extensive training for the mission.

• A budget of Rs 9,023 crore is allocated towards achieving the objectives of the mission.

• ISRO developed indigenous technologies for the launch vehicle, habitable Crew Module, life support system, Crew Escape System, ground station network, crew training and recovery.

• These technologies are crucial to meet the objectives of Gaganyaan mission and to take up any further interplanetary missions.

• Gaganyaan will not be a one-off mission as the government has given us approval for a sustained human spaceflight programme.

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