After initial hiccup, ISRO successfully launches Gaganyaan TV-D1 test vehicle

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched Gaganyaan Test Vehicle Development Flight Mission-1 test vehicle (TV-D1 Flight Test) on Saturday (Oct 21). The launch was kept on hold earlier this morning when ISRO made first attempt. At the time, the launch was aborted as on-board computers detected an anomaly, ISRO said. Within a matter of an hour, ISRO posted from its official account on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that theanomaly had been identified and corrected.

After the lift-off, the Crew Module separated from the launch vehicle successfully. It then descended towards the ground using parachutes and splashed down in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Sriharikota as it was intended.

"Mission Gaganyaan. TV D1 Test Flight is accomplished. Crew Escape System performed as intended. Mission Gaganyaan gets off on a successful note," ISRO posted after the successful launch.

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The flight test vehicle abort mission wasaimed at demonstrating performance of the Crew Escape system which will be part of the Gaganyaan mission. The aim wasalso to test safe landing in the Bay of Bengal after the launch.

TV-D1 is a liquid-propelled single state test vehicle. The Crew Escape System, which the test vehicle carried with it, is India's homegrown system which will be crucial for the safety of Indian astronauts.

Although it was launch of atest vehicle, it represents a major milestone as it is a step towards India's effort to send humans into space.

The Crew Escape System comprises of five types of quick-acting solid motors.

These are Crew Escape System Jettisoning Motor (CJM), High-altitude Escape Motor (HEM), Low-altitude EscapeMotor (LEM), Low-altitude Pitch Motor (LPM) and High-altitude Pitch Motor (HPM).

A crew escape system is just like ejection seats in fighter jet planes. The system safeguards the astronauts in case a catastrophic error occurs during there spaceflight endangering the spacecraft they are travelling in.

It is an automatic system that is triggered by computer if it detects malfunctions or other issues moments after liftoff.

India has an ambitious aim of sending three astronauts into a 400-kilometreorbit around the Earth for three days. After the successful conclusion of that mission, India will join an elite club of nations thathave sent astronauts into space.

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