New Delhi, Oct 21: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a significant milestone in its ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight program through the test launch of the Test Vehicle (TV-D1), a single-stage liquid rocket.

Originally scheduled for liftoff at 8 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, the launch was briefly postponed but successfully took place at 10 am. The primary purpose of the TV-D1 test flight was to demonstrate the functioning of the Crew Escape System.

Crucial to the Gaganyaan mission, this endeavor is designed to showcase India's capabilities in human spaceflight by sending a crew of three individuals into a 400-kilometer orbit for a three-day mission, ensuring their safe return by landing in the Indian Ocean's waters.

The TV-D1 vehicle featured a modified VIKAS engine with a Crew Module and Crew Escape System positioned at its front. Standing at a height of 34.9 meters and boasting a lift-off weight of 44 tonnes, it possessed a single-walled unpressurized aluminum structure with a simulated thermal protection system.

The success of this test flight holds immense significance as it paves the way for subsequent qualification tests and unmanned missions, ultimately leading to the realization of the first Gaganyaan program with Indian astronauts, expected to materialize in 2025. Photo Source ISRO

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