On Saturday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that the launch time for the initial uncrewed test flight (TV-D1 Flight Test) in the Gaganyaan Mission has been rescheduled for 10 am. Earlier today, ISRO halted the launch due to identified and rectified errors. According to ISRO’s post on the former social media platform X, “The reason for the launch delay has been identified and resolved. The launch is now scheduled for 10:00 Hrs today.”
The ISRO chief explained that the lift-off was hindered by engine ignition issues. “Today’s attempted lift-off was unsuccessful. The engine ignition did not occur as expected, and we are investigating the cause. The vehicle is secure, and we are working to diagnose the issue. We will rectify it and plan a new launch date soon,” the ISRO chief stated during a brief media interaction.
This Flight Test Vehicle Abort mission aims to showcase the effectiveness of the Crew escape system as part of the Gaganyaan mission and to verify the safe landing in the Bay of Bengal following the rocket launch.
The objectives of the Gaganyaan TV-D1 launch include demonstrating and evaluating Test Vehicle subsystems, evaluating the Crew Escape System with various separation systems, examining crew module characteristics, and demonstrating the deceleration system at higher altitudes and its recovery.
This mission marks a significant advancement in India’s endeavor to demonstrate its capability to send humans into space. The project’s aim is to demonstrate India’s capability to place humans in a 400-kilometer orbit and safely return them to earth with a splashdown in the Bay of Bengal Sea. About 20 major tests, including three uncrewed missions of the Human-Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3), are planned to ensure the mission’s success.
The Gaganyaan project plans to exhibit human spaceflight capabilities by launching a crew of three into a 400 km orbit for a 3-day mission and returning them safely to earth by landing in Indian waters.
This program will position India as the fourth country to undertake a manned spaceflight mission, following the United States, Russia, and China. Building on the successes of Indian space initiatives, including the recent Chandrayan-3 and Aditya L1 missions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed India to strive for new and ambitious goals, including establishing the ‘Bharatiya Antariksha Station’ (Indian Space Station) by 2035 and sending the first Indian to the Moon by 2040.
Also Read: Mission Gaganyaan: 5 Seconds Before Liftoff, ISRO Puts 1st TV-D1 Flight Test on ‘Hold’
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