The first tests of the Gaganyan spacecraft were in India. This prototype of a spacecraft was tested without a crew. As part of the test flight, a system of starting and rescue of the crew was checked. This is the first step in the implementation of India's historical mission, which plans to send its first astronauts in orbit on the Gaganian spacecraft at the end of next year.
India is preparing for the first in its history to launch its astronauts into the spacecraft of Gaganyan, which is planned at the end of 2024. As part of the preparation for this flight, a crew capsule was launched to check the emergency rescue system of astronauts. The tests confirmed that in the event of an emergency, the crew will be able to successfully leave the spacecraft.
Test details:
As part of the tests, a leaky test version of the module for the crew of the Gaganian spacecraft was sent to the air, and the module of the crew rescue system was attached to it.
The spacecraft flew into the atmosphere with the help of a specially designed rocket. But in the future, Gaganyan will go to space on a more powerful rocket.
According to the test flight plan, both modules were to be separated from the rocket at a height of 12 km, and then the module of the crew rescue system launched its own engines. After that, they unfolded their parachutes and landed in the Indian Ocean.
The Indian Space Agency reported that the mission ended successfully, which means that in the case of unforeseen situations, the crew will be able to return to the ground safely.
India is currently seeking to strengthen its status as a space state, and it is already going out. In particular, in September this year, India successfully completed its monthly mission "Chandraian-3". Two spacecraft, landing module and moonshine, not only for the first time in history successfully landed just a few hundred kilometers from the South Pole of the moon, but also conducted important studies of the region.