ISRO Successfully Tests Gaganyaan Crew Escape System at Full Scal...

The Indian Space Research Organisation conducted a full-scale integrated test of the Crew Escape System for the Gaganyaan crewed spacecraft at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, validating the abort system that will protect astronauts in the event of a launch failure. The test fired a solid rocket motor that carried a fully loaded crew module from zero altitude to approximately 2.7 kilometres in 16.5 seconds before safe parachute-assisted splashdown in the Bay of Bengal. All seven parachutes deployed as planned and the module was recovered undamaged within 35 minutes. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan described the test as a critical milestone clearing the path for the uncrewed Gaganyaan orbital flight scheduled for late 2026. India first crewed orbital mission, carrying three Indian Air Force astronauts, is targeted for 2027.