Gaganyaan test flight mission successful, crew escape module splashes down

ISRO on Saturday rescheduled the launch of its maiden Test Vehicle for the Gaganyaan human space flight mission by 30 minutes from the spaceport here.

ISRO scientists, after a two hour delay and nerve-wracking moments as the engine of TV-D1 failed to ignite initially, on October 21 launched the rocket carrying payloads related to crew safety in Gaganyaan mission with precision from Sriharikota and achieved the goal of Crew Module and Crew Escape separation.

ISRO chief S. Somanath said, Gaganyaan’s first Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) was successfully accomplished.  

The ISRO announced on X that TV-D1 Mission was fully achieved and that the Crew Escape System performed as intended.

Earlier in the day, the ISRO held the launch of Gaganyaan’s first Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) five seconds before lift off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. However, the reason for the launch hold was identified and corrected, ISRO said.

The TV-D1 flight which was to demonstrate the performance of the Crew Escape System (CES) was scheduled to lift off at 8 a.m, however it was rescheduled for 8.30 am.

At 8.30 a.m. the mission director initiated the automatic launch sequence with the lift off again rescheduled at 8.45 a.m. But five seconds before liftoff the launch was called off.

Mr. Somanath said that the onboard computer withheld the launch in view of an anomaly observed.