New Delhi: India has taken a significant step forward in its human spaceflight programme with the successful testing of a 10-parachute landing system designed for the Gaganyaan Crew Module. Conducted at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, the second Integrated Air Drop Test confirmed the reliability of a critical system that will ensure astronauts return safely to Earth after space missions.
The test focused on the descent and landing phase, widely considered one of the most challenging stages of any human spaceflight. A simulated crew module weighing around 5.7 tonnes was lifted by an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter to an altitude of about three kilometres before being released over the Bay of Bengal. What followed was a carefully sequenced deployment of parachutes that gradually slowed the module for a controlled splashdown.
The system uses ten parachutes of four different types, all designed and manufactured in India. The sequence begins with two parachutes that remove the protective cover of the compartment, followed by stabilising chutes that control the module’s motion. Finally, three main parachutes deploy to reduce speed significantly, with built in redundancy ensuring safety even if one fails.
During an actual mission, the crew module will re enter Earth’s atmosphere at extremely high speeds after orbiting in space. The parachutes are designed to deploy at high altitudes and progressively reduce velocity from nearly 700 kilometres per hour to a safe landing speed of about 30 kilometres per hour. This precise deceleration is essential to protect astronauts from the intense forces experienced during descent.
After splashdown, the module was successfully recovered from the sea in a coordinated effort involving multiple defence and research agencies. The test validated the system’s performance under realistic conditions and provided valuable data for further refinements.
With this achievement, India moves closer to sending astronauts into space, demonstrating steady progress through rigorous testing and indigenous technological development.
