Why in news?
The Indian Space Research Organisation successfully conducted the first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT‑01) on 24 August 2025 as part of preparations for the Gaganyaan human‑spaceflight programme. The test demonstrated the performance of the parachute‑based recovery system for the crew module.
What the test involved
A dummy crew module weighing about 4.8 tonnes was carried to an altitude of around 3 kilometres by an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter. At the release point, the capsule’s apex cover separated and drogue parachutes deployed to stabilise it. This was followed by a cluster of pilot and main parachutes that slowed the module’s descent to roughly 8 metres per second. On splashdown in the Bay of Bengal, parachute release mechanisms detached the canopy, and naval vessels recovered the module.
Significance
The IADT‑01 simulated an abort scenario on the launch pad, where the crew module is jettisoned and must land safely at sea. Successful execution proves that the parachute system can handle the loads and sequence of events during emergency recovery. Data from sensors and on‑board recorders will refine the design for later tests, including a test flight of the crew escape system and an uncrewed orbital mission. The milestone brings India closer to sending astronauts to space on an indigenous rocket.