Test flight success of Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) heralds successive sequential trial flights before the final “Gaganyaan” launch, says Union Minister of State for Space, Dr Jitendra Singh

Test flight success of Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) this morning heralds successive sequential trial flights before the final “Gaganyaan” launch, said Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in his first response soon after the entire exercise was  accomplished as expected, with a single engine rocket carrying an early depressurised version of "Gaganyaan" Crew Module (CM) to an altitude of around 17 Kilometre followed by final  descent using a parachute for its splash down. 

The Minister of State for Space said, this is a critical step in the ISRO journey to launch a crewed human spacecraft through “Gaganyaan” mission. Today’s exercise tested the performance of the Crew Escape System on the Crew Module of the Gaganyaan mission, he said.  Basically, it tested the safety mechanism that will allow the crew of the "Gaganyaan" mission to escape the spacecraft in case the mission is aborted due to a malfunction, he added. 

Coming less than two months after the successful Moon landing by Chandrayaan-3, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, today’s event has paved the way for a series of tests of systems and procedures with the aim to ultimately launch an Indian astronaut on Space, possibly around the year 2025. 

Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi "unlocked" the Space sector from the self-imposed regulations and shackles of the past, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, the mood is upbeat at ISRO and the industry as well as private participants are vying with each other to collaborate in  Space projects.   This has not only given a boost but also contributed huge value addition both in terms of knowledge as well as finances and an evidence of this is that  within a short span of over three years the number of successful StartUps has gone up from less than 5 to over 150.Citing the adage, “Well Begun is Half Done”,  Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) accomplished today  demonstrated the crew escape of the “Gaganyaan” project. 

Dr Jitendra Singh said, this test flight will set the stage for the remaining qualification tests and unmanned missions, leading to the first Gaganyaan mission with Indian astronauts. 

The Minister said, human safety is of paramount importance in the “Gaganyaan” mission. Crew Module (CM) is the habitable space with Earth like environment in space for the crew, while Service Module (SM) will be used for providing necessary support to CM while in orbit. 

Under the able guidance of PM Modi, India’s Space programme is aiming for its first manned mission to Space and later landing the first Indian astronaut to the Moon, he added.