“For Friday’s launch, we used the human-rated solid strap-on motors. The L110 Vikas engine is also human-rated,” he said. TOI had reported about Isro’s plans to use human-rated systems on LVM-3 launches that aren’t part of the Gaganyaan mission so as to re-ascertain their capability.
Isro chairman S Somanath said this is part of making all rockets more efficient and reliable. “All human-rated elements will now start flying even on non-human-rated LVM-3 missions. The last mission had the human-rated S200s and in the next mission, more such elements will be added,” Somanath told TOI ahead of Friday’s launch.
“The propulsion modules — solid, liquid and cryogenic — have undergone tests successfully and the remaining elements of the rocket have been reverified and qualified to the extent that we can call them human-rated,” he said.
S Unnikrishnan Nair, director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, which produces LVM-3, said the teams have met all targets. “We are implementing some human-rated systems as and when we can in missions like today’s. Except for quad-electronics (electronic systems that will have quadruple redundancies), which will only be tested on the first crewless mission (planned next year), all human-rated systems have been tested. The software is being tested,”
VSSC is planning to involve technically suitable and competent vendors for realization of Carbon–Carbon composite products for VSSC/ISRO programs. The purpose of this Expression of Interest(EoI) is to invite proposals from the potential vendors towards realization of various Carbon – Carbon products by operating and daily up keep of process facilities as mentioned in Section 6.0 through GOCO mode for 3 years. On evaluation of EoI, an RFP will be released to the shortlisted vendors.
#JUSTIN #UPDATE #Space@isro has successfully completed the Hot Test of Service Module Propulsion System of the #Gaganyaan mission. Test involved 5 liquid apogee motor (LAM) engines with a thrust of 440 N and 16 reaction control system (RCS) Thrusters with a thrust of 100 N.
ISRO successfully tested the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) – which caters to the requirements of the Orbital Module – at IPRC, Mahendragiri.The hot test was conducted in SMPS’s final configuration. isro.gov.in/SMPS_Test.html
Test Vehicle D1 Mission: Avionics deck assembly completed, Crew Module undergoing final integration activities at ISITE, Bangalore.Ground Resonance test for Crew escape system (CES) and Crew module (CM): All CES hardware positioned in SDSC-SHAR, CM integration is in advance stage.Orbital Module preparation facility(OMPF) fully realized for supporting TV-D1 mission integration activities.'Crew Module (CM) - Service Module (SM)' multi-point separation test successfully carried out.Service Module Propulsion system demonstration tests (Phase 2): All systems realized and integration activities completed for the test hardware. The test modules are positioned in Test stand.Shock survivability tests simulating sequential firing of all the pyros of the Apex region of Crew module successfully carried out.
#MissionGaganyaan gains momentumHarbour trials for Crew Module Recovery commencedJoint #IndianNavy-@isro team successfully undertook recovery trials of Crew Module onboard earmarked ship at #EasternNavalCommand, Visakhapatnam as preparatory activity for 1st test launch mission
Commencement of Harbor Trials for the Gaganyaan Recovery operations Home /Gaganyaan Recovery operations_Harbor TrialsJuly 22, 2023Recovery trial operations of the Gaganyaan mission entered into the second phase with the commencement of harbor trials on July 20, 2023, at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam. ISRO and Indian Navy jointly carried out the trials with the ship identified for the recovery operations during the first Development Mission of the Test Vehicle.The trials were conducted at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam, using a mass and shape simulated Crew Module Mockup (CMRM). This mockup was a crucial component in the testing process, ensuring that the recovery procedures accurately simulated conditions.The various stages of recovery were simulated during the trials, including the attachment of the recovery buoy, towing, handling, and lifting of the crew module onto the ship deck. These procedures were executed according to the recovery sequence, demonstrating the preparedness of the teams involved.To ensure a seamless and safe recovery process, the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were fine-tuned based on the experiences from the phase-1 trials at the Water Survival Training Facility (WSTF) in Kochi. This iterative approach allowed for refinements to be made, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of the recovery operations.
#Update #Space #India #Thread@isro has carried out two more hot tests on the #Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) on July 26, 2023. The SMPS is designed & developed by LPSC (Liquid Propulsion System Centre (LPSC). 1/nPics: Isro
“These tests marked the second and third hot tests in the Service Module – System Demonstration model (SM-SDM) phase 2 test series. The first hot test was conducted on July 19, 2023,” Isro said. 2/n
During the tests, the thrusters were operated in both continuous and pulse mode, in sync with the mission profile. Initial hot test which lasted for 723.6 seconds focussed on demonstrating Orbital Module injection and the calibration burn of 100 N thrusters and LAM engines. 3/n
The calibration burn was essential to identify and isolate any non-operational engines. The LAM engines and reaction control system (RCS) Thrusters performed as expected. 4/n
The latter hot test, with a duration of 350 seconds, aimed to demonstrate the circularization of the Orbital Module to achieve the final orbit. During this test, the LAM engines operated in continuous mode, while the RCS Thrusters fired in pulse mode. 5/n
“Looking ahead, 3 more hot tests are scheduled to demonstrate de-boosting requirements & off-nominal mission scenarios. These will further validate and refine the performance of the propulsion system, ensuring its readiness for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission,” Isro added. n/n
ISRO completed two more hot fire tests of the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System on July 26
Yesterday #ISRO completed the 2nd & 3rd hot-fire tests of #Gaganyaan's Service Module Propulsion System in phase 2 of its testing, lasting 723.6 and 350 seconds respectively.There are 3 more firings planned to test deorbit burns & off-nominal scenarios.
Mission Gaganyaan:Service Module Propulsion SystemSystem Demonstration Module Hot Test - Phase 2.Another hot test was conducted today, for 700 s. LAM engines and RCS Thrusters were fired in continuous mode and pulse mode. The performance was normal.Today's test followed a nominal de-boost profile.
Senior Nasa officials are headed to India to discuss details and put frameworks in place. This visit will be followed by Bill Nelson, the head of Nasa, in November.
Nelson will also discuss the other major space odyssey - the launch of Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (Nisar) from Sriharikota in January. Nisar is two radars - one developed by Nasa and the other by Isro - combined to form a single spacecraft.
Dr Jitendra Singh today said, the first Test Vehicle mission, for the validation of crew escape system for Gaganyaan, the maiden human space flight mission of India is planned in August/September 2023.
In a statement laid on the table of the Rajya Sabha, Dr Jitendra Singh informed that all subsystems pertaining to Test Vehicle TV-D1 mission have been realized and the Crew module integration is completed. He also added that Static tests of all Crew Escape System motors have been completed as also Ground testing of Crew Module Propulsion system is completed. Training of crew (Astronauts) is nearing completion.
The other progress made for Gaganyaan programme is as follows: i) 2nd Crew Module sub-assembly identified for uncrewed mission is completed and delivered by industry. ii) Orbital module preparation facility construction completed. Facility has been commissioned for integration activities of Test vehicle mission. Launch pad augmentation works for Gaganyaan are underway. iii) Recovery training plan by ISRO and Indian Navy & recovery training program commenced at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam. iv) The delivery of human centric products for crew training commenced from various national labs. Testing of human centric products is underway.
ISRO Conducts Drogue Parachute Deployment Tests for Gaganyaan Mission HomeAugust 11, 2023Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)/ISRO, successfully conducted a series of Drogue Parachute Deployment Tests at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh, during August 8-10, 2023. The tests were conducted in collaboration with Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE)/DRDO.The Gaganyaan mission entails the safe transportation of astronauts to space and back. A crucial component of this mission is the deployment of drogue parachutes, which play a pivotal role in stabilizing the crew module and reducing its velocity to a safe level during re-entry.Drogue parachutes, packed within pyro-based devices known as mortars, are ingeniously designed to eject the parachutes into the air upon command. These conical ribbon-type parachutes, boasting a diameter of 5.8 meters, employ a single-stage reefing mechanism, ingeniously minimizing canopy area and mitigating opening shock, ensuring a smooth and controlled descent.During the three comprehensive tests conducted at the RTRS facility, a range of real-world scenarios were simulated to rigorously evaluate the performance and reliability of the drogue parachutes. The first test simulated the maximum reefed load, marking a groundbreaking introduction of reefing in a mortar-deployed parachute within India. The second test emulated the maximum disreefed load, while the third test showcased the deployment of the drogue parachute under conditions mirroring the maximum angle of attack experienced by the Crew Module during its mission.These successful RTRS tests serve as a critical qualification milestone for the drogue parachutes, confirming their readiness for integration into the upcoming Test Vehicle-D1 mission. Notably, earlier this year, the RTRS tests of Pilot and Apex cover separation parachutes were also conducted, further accentuating the progress of the Gaganyaan mission's parachute system development.The intricate parachute sequence for the Gaganyaan crew module's deceleration system encompasses a total of 10 parachutes. The sequence commences with the deployment of two Apex cover separation parachutes, followed by the stabilization achieved through the deployment of two drogue parachutes. Upon release of the drogue parachutes, the mission transitions into the extraction phase, with three Pilot chutes individually extracting three main parachutes, a pivotal step in reducing the Crew Module's speed to safe levels for a secure landing.
Friends, I guess the astronaut training facility is currently in Bangalore, right ? But I thought that ISRO wanted to set up a new, state of the art, training facility somewhere in Chalkakere. What about that ? Is it operational ?
BENGALURU: Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has operationalised the basic or ad hoc astronaut training facility, off Old Airport Road in Bengaluru, commissioned specifically for the Gaganyaan programme.While this centre — hosting at least three types of simulators and other training facilities — is expected to fulfil requirements of Gaganyaan, a larger, more sophisticated astronaut training facility will eventually come up at Challakere, some 200km from Bengaluru, for future human space programmes.
Mission Gaganyaan:🔸VSSC/ISRO, in collaboration with ADRDE/ @DRDO_India , successfully conducted Drogue Parachute Deployment Tests at the RTRS facility in Chandigarh.🔸Drogue parachutes, armed with pyro-based mortars, stabilize and decelerate the crew module during re-entry to ensure a smooth descent.🔸The tests instil assurance for integrating drogue parachutes into the Test Vehicle-D1 mission.
UpdateI will be working with the Navy for their next circumnavigation attempt. In addition I am also helping @isro with India’s first manned space mission. Thrilled to be consulting for a sea and space circumnavigation simultaneously. Both have been very close to my heart.Truly, adventure has an unknown outcome.#gaganyaan
"The next mission after that [Aditya L1] will be the Gaganyaan abort mission demonstration. It could be in the end of September or the first week of October," Chief Somnath stated. This mission will showcase Isro's readiness for human spaceflight and is a significant milestone in the Gaganyaan programme.
