25.08.2025
ISRO has successfully conducted the first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01), showcasing a parachute-based deceleration system for the Gaganyaan mission. The test, executed with IAF, DRDO, Navy, and Coast Guard, marks a key milestone in India’s human spaceflight programme set for 2027.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday announced the successful completion of its first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01), marking a major step forward in India’s ambitious human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan.
India's national space agency stated that the test was carried out in close collaboration with multiple agencies, including the Indian Air Force, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Indian Navy, and Indian Coast Guard.
“ISRO successfully accomplishes first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) for end-to-end demonstration of parachute-based deceleration system for Gaganyaan missions. This test is a joint effort of ISRO, Indian Air Force, DRDO, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard,” ISRO said in an official statement.
It is pertinent to note that the parachute-based system is a key component of the Gaganyaan programme, which aims to send a three-member crew into low-earth orbit for a three-day mission. Upon re-entry, the crew module must decelerate from hypersonic speeds before splashdown in the sea, making the parachute deployment system critical for mission success.
Earlier, ISRO had revealed that it is gearing up to launch its maiden Gaganyaan test mission this December, marking a crucial milestone in India’s ambitious human spaceflight programme. The astronauts who are part of this mission include Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla. The upcoming launch will pave the way for India’s broader goal of sending astronauts into space by 2027, a feat that would place the country among a select group of nations with independent human spaceflight capability.
Earlier today, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh felicitated the four astronauts chosen for India’s Gaganyaan mission, calling them the nation’s pride. He hailed the mission as a symbol of self-reliance and a leap in India’s space journey, with the first human spaceflight slated for 2027.
The Gaganyaan uncrewed test mission will carry Vyommitra, a half-humanoid robot, to further assess life-support systems and module integrity ahead of crewed operations. Upon success, India will become the fourth nation with independent crewed spaceflight capabilities, following the US, Russia, and China.
Quelle: Republic