ISRO Gaganyaan mission advances with successful drogue parachute tests
Critical tests pave way for safe astronaut re-entry in upcoming mission
In a significant development in India’s space exploration endeavours, the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in collaboration with the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), successfully carried out a series of Drogue Parachute Deployment Tests. The tests were conducted at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory in Chandigarh, between 8th and 10th of August, 2023.
Mission Gaganyaan:
🔸VSSC/ISRO, in collaboration with ADRDE/ @DRDO_India , successfully conducted Drogue Parachute Deployment Tests at the RTRS facility in Chandigarh.
🔸Drogue parachutes, armed with pyro-based mortars, stabilize and decelerate the crew module during re-entry… pic.twitter.com/q9AN3jAxYN
— ISRO (@isro) August 12, 2023
The tests are a crucial part of the Gaganyaan mission, which aims to safely transport astronauts to space and back. A critical aspect of this mission is the deployment of drogue parachutes, which are instrumental in stabilising the crew module and reducing its velocity to a safe level during re-entry.
Drogue parachutes are packed within pyro-based devices, known as mortars. These are designed to eject the parachutes into the air upon command. The parachutes, which are conical ribbon-type and have a diameter of 5.8 meters, use a single-stage reefing mechanism. This mechanism ingeniously minimises the canopy area and mitigates the opening shock, ensuring a smooth and controlled descent.
The RTRS facility conducted three comprehensive tests to evaluate the performance and reliability of the drogue parachutes under a range of real-world scenarios. The first test simulated the maximum reefed load, marking a groundbreaking introduction of reefing in a mortar-deployed parachute within India. The second test emulated the maximum disreefed load, while the third test showcased the deployment of the drogue parachute under conditions mirroring the maximum angle of attack experienced by the Crew Module during its mission.
These successful tests are a critical qualification milestone for the drogue parachutes, confirming their readiness for integration into the upcoming Test Vehicle-D1 mission. Earlier this year, the RTRS tests of Pilot and Apex cover separation parachutes were also conducted, further accentuating the progress of the Gaganyaan mission’s parachute system development.
The intricate parachute sequence for the Gaganyaan crew module’s deceleration system includes a total of 10 parachutes. The sequence begins with the deployment of two Apex cover separation parachutes, followed by the stabilisation achieved through the deployment of two drogue parachutes. Upon release of the drogue parachutes, the mission transitions into the extraction phase, with three Pilot chutes individually extracting three main parachutes. This is a crucial step in reducing the Crew Module’s speed to safe levels for a secure landing.
This development marks a significant step in India’s space exploration endeavours, bringing the nation one step closer to achieving its ambitious Gaganyaan mission.
