DRDO Conducts Gaganyaan’s Drogue Parachute Test

Agency: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
Test Conducted: Qualification load test of the drogue parachute for Gaganyaan
Facility: Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) at Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh
Purpose of Drogue Parachute: Primary brake to stabilise and decelerate the crew module before main parachutes deploy, ensuring safe splash‑down.
Test Conditions: Loads higher than maximum flight conditions to demonstrate extra safety margin.
Gaganyaan Mission Profile: 3‑astronaut crew, 400 km Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for 3 days, return via safe re‑entry and recovery.
Key Technologies: Human‑Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3) – modified LVM3, Crew Escape System (CES), Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT), Pad Abort Test (PAT), Test Vehicle (TV) flights.
Astronaut‑designates: Group Captains Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Ajit Krishnan, Angad Pratap and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla.

Gaganyaan Programme: India’s inaugural crewed spaceflight initiative launched by ISRO, aiming for a manned mission by early 2027.
DRDO’s Role: Provides critical launch‑vehicle safety systems, including parachute technology and abort mechanisms, complementing ISRO’s launch vehicle development.
RTRS Facility: A high‑speed aerodynamic and ballistic test range capable of simulating launch‑vehicle re‑entry dynamics and parachute deployment scenarios.

Strategic Autonomy: Demonstrates indigenous capability in crewed spaceflight, reducing reliance on foreign partners for human‑rated launch systems.
Technology Transfer & Dual‑Use: Parachute and abort technologies have spin‑off potential for defence, aerospace, and disaster‑relief applications.
Policy Alignment: Aligns with the National Space Policy (2019) which emphasizes human spaceflight, safety, and international cooperation.
Economic Impact: Boosts high‑technology manufacturing, creates skilled jobs, and positions India as a competitive player in the global space sector.

Space Activities Act, 2023: Provides a regulatory framework for space activities, including safety standards for crewed missions.
ISRO (Organization) Act, 2020: Empowers ISRO and collaborating agencies like DRDO to undertake research, development, and testing for space missions.
Defence Procurement Policy: Facilitates joint development and testing of critical defence‑space technologies.