ISRO Starts Recovery Trials For Gaganyaan Crew Module: All You Need To Know

On February 7, 2023, ISRO, along with the Indian Navy, conducted recovery trials for the Gaganyaan mission. The Indian Navy will lead the overall recovery operations of the Gaganyaan Crew Module. 

ISRO will send Indian astronauts to space for a three-day mission, as part of Gaganyaan 3. They will return to Earth by splashing down in Indian waters. A team will recover the astronauts from the crew module. Therefore, recovery trials are very important. 

Source : ISRO

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has commenced recovery trials for the Gaganyaan mission. On February 7, 2023, ISRO, along with the Indian Navy, conducted the recovery trials. The trials were performed in the Indian Navy’s Water Survival Test Facility (WSTF) located in Kochi. 

The Gaganyaan mission will be carried out in three phases, namely, Gaganyaan 1, Gaganyaan 2 and Gaganyaan 3, which will be India’s first human spaceflight mission. ISRO will send Indian astronauts to space for a three-day mission, as part of Gaganyaan 3. They will return to Earth by splashing down in Indian waters. A team will recover the astronauts from the crew module. The safe recovery of the crew marks the final step of any successful human spaceflight mission.

Therefore, recovery trials for the Gaganyaan Programme are very important. 

The Indian Navy will lead the overall recovery operations of the Gaganyaan Crew Module. 

How were the recovery trials conducted?

During the trials, ISRO and the Indian Navy used a Crew Module Recovery Module (CMRM) that simulates the mass, centre of gravity, outer dimensions and externals of the actual Crew Module at splashdown. ISRO and the Indian Navy also carried out all the sequence of operations required for the recovery of the Crew Module. 

The trials as part of the preparation for Crew Module recovery operations for the Gaganyaan mission have commenced.

On Feb 7, 2023, initial trials in a closed pool were conducted in the Water Survival Test Facility (WSTF) of @indiannavy at Kochi. https://t.co/yOf4cxnPom pic.twitter.com/yVXgnX0gaq

— ISRO (@isro) February 8, 2023

It is important to carry out a large number of trials to extensively practise the recovery procedures for various scenarios. 

ISRO and the Indian Navy are yet to finalise the Standard Operating Procedures (SoP) for the recovery of the Crew Module and the crew. 

 

ISRO and the Indian Navy carried out all the sequence of operations required for the recovery of the Crew Module. (Photo: ISRO)

The initial recovery trials were carried out in a closed pool. Next, the recovery trials will be carried out in a harbour and in the open sea, ISRO said on its website. 

Flight crew training will also be carried out at WSTF, a state-of-the-art facility that simulates different sea state conditions, day and night conditions, and environmental conditions. 

The trials are important because they will help validate the SoP, and will train recovery teams and the flight crew. The trials also provide valuable inputs for the utilisation of recovery accessories. 

The recovery team will also give their feedback on the trials. This will help improve recovery accessories and finalise the training plan.