ISRO’s TV-D1 test flight of Mission Gaganyaan lifts off from Satish Dhawan Space Station, in Sriharikota on October 21, 2023. Photo: X/@isro by way of PTI
ISRO scientists, after a two hour delay and nerve-wracking moments because the engine of TV-D1 did not ignite initially, on October 21 launched the rocket carrying payloads associated to crew security in Gaganyaan mission with precision from Sriharikota and achieved the objective of Crew Module and Crew Escape separation.
ISRO chief S. Somanath stated, Gaganyaan’s first Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) was efficiently achieved.
The ISRO introduced on X that TV-D1 Mission was totally achieved and that the Crew Escape System carried out as supposed.
Earlier within the day, the ISRO held the launch of Gaganyaan’s first Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) 5 seconds earlier than carry off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. However, the rationale for the launch maintain was recognized and corrected, ISRO stated.
The TV-D1 flight which was to exhibit the efficiency of the Crew Escape System (CES) was scheduled to carry off at 8 a.m, nevertheless it was rescheduled for 8.30 am.
At 8.30 a.m. the mission director initiated the automated launch sequence with the carry off once more rescheduled at 8.45 a.m. But 5 seconds earlier than liftoff the launch was referred to as off.
Mr. Somanath stated that the onboard pc withheld the launch in view of an anomaly noticed.
“The engine ignition has to happen in the nominal course. We have to find out what went wrong with that. We will come back soon after analysing what has triggered the automatic launch sequence holding the vehicle. So what has happened is the onboard computer which is doing the function has withheld the launch in view of the anomaly observed,” Mr. Somanath stated.
He added that the launch automobile is protected and that ISRO will research and analyse anomalies.
“The launch vehicle is safe. We will have to reach the vehicle and look at what has happened. We will find out and understand the anomaly and schedule the launch very soon,” he added. Mr. Somanath even stated that the brand new date for the launch shall be introduced later after the evaluation is accomplished.
But lastly, the automobile took off at 10 a.m. and the payloads later splashed into the ocean as deliberate, a improvement that witnessed jubilation.
‘Vehicle went slightly above the speed of sound’
Addressing the media, ISRO Chairman Somanath stated, “I am very happy to announce the successful accomplishment of the TV-D1 mission. The purpose of this mission was to demonstrate the Crew Escape System for the Gaganyaan program through a test vehicle demonstration in which the vehicle went up to a Mach number, which is slightly above the speed of sound, and initiated an abort condition for the Crew Escape System to function.”
“The Crew Escape System took the crew module away from the vehicle, and subsequent operations, including the touch-down at sea, have been very well accomplished. and we have confirmation of the data for all of this,” he added.
Mr. Somanath congratulated scientists after the profitable landing of the crew escape module.
On the event, mission Director S. Sivakumar stated, “This is like a never before attempt. It is like a bouquet of three experiments put together. We have now seen the characteristics of all three systems with what we wanted to test through this experiment or this mission. The test vehicle, the Crew Escape System, the crew module everything, we have perfectly demonstrated in the first attempt. All the systems performed well.”
“We had been at penance for the last 3 to 4 years and the D-day was today… We are very happy to be able to do it on the very first attempt,” he added.
This flight test automobile abort mission was carried out to exhibit the efficiency of the Crew Escape System as a part of the Gaganyaan mission. The goals of this mission had been flight demonstration and analysis of test automobile sub-systems, analysis of CES together with numerous separation methods and CM traits and deceleration methods demonstration at increased altitude and its restoration.
Simply put, the target of the mission was to verify the security of the CES for its capabilities to take the CM to security in case of an emergency that may require ISRO to abort the mission.
(With inputs from Agencies)
