TV-D1 mission

The TV-D1 mission, Gaganyaan’s first Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1, was successfully accomplished.

About TV-D1 Mission:

• Test Vehicle (TV-D1) a single-stage liquid rocket was crucial part of the Gaganyaan mission.
• It was an unpressurised version of the eventual craft, designed to replicate the size and weight of the actual crew module that will be used in the Gaganyaan mission.
• The TV-D1 vehicle used a modified VIKAS engine with a Crew Module and Crew Escape System mounted at its front.
  • The module was equipped with various systems for deceleration and recovery, including a set of parachutes.

Test of Crew Module:

• This test involved the crew module which is a vital payload in the rocket designed to be inhabited by the crew and provide them with an Earth-like environment.
• The crew module consists of a pressurized metallic inner structure and an unpressurised external structure with thermal protection systems.
• The crew module integrates essential systems such as crew interfaces, life support, avionics, and descent mechanisms to safeguard the crew during descent and landing phases.

Mid-flight crew escape system:

• One of the objective of the mission was to check the safety of the mid-flight crew escape system for its capabilities to take the crew module to safety in case of an emergency that will require ISRO to abort the mission.

About Gaganyaan mission:

• Gaganyaan mission which is set to be launched in 2025 aims to send 3 crew members into space for 3 days, launching them into a 400km orbit above the Earth and bringing them back to land.
• Upon its completion, India will become the 4^th nation, after the US, Russia, and China, to undertake a manned spaceflight mission.
• Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) rocket is identified as the launch vehicle for Gaganyaan mission.
  • It consists of solid stage, liquid stage and cryogenic stage.
• All systems in LVM3 launch vehicle are re-configured to meet human rating requirements and christened Human Rated LVM3.
  • HLVM3 will be capable of launching the Orbital Module to an intended Low Earth Orbit of 400 km.

Components of Gaganyaan mission:

Crew Escape System (CES):

• The spacecraft consists of CES powered by a set of quick acting, high burn rate solid motors which ensures that Crew Module along with crew is taken to a safe distance in case of any emergency either at launch pad or during ascent phase.

Orbital Module (OM):

• It will be Orbiting Earth and comprises of Crew Module (CM) and Service Module (SM).
• OM is equipped with state-of-the-art avionics systems with adequate redundancy considering human safety.

Service Module (SM):

• SM will be used for providing necessary support to CM while in orbit.
• It is an unpressurized structure containing thermal system, propulsion system, power systems, avionics systems and deployment mechanisms.

Ref: Source