Editor's Pick: Gaganyaan test flight successful

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully completed its first test flight to demonstrate a crew escape system for the Gaganyaan mission that aims at putting humans in space, after twice rescheduling the flight due to bad weather and then temporarily delaying the launch just five seconds before scheduled lift-off on Saturday due to an anomaly in the system. The Test Vehicle Abort Mission 1 (TV-D1) flight was meant to simulate an abort situation, and demonstrate the system to safely carry the crew module out of the vehicle in case of emergencies. Though it was scheduled to lift off at 8 a.m. on Saturday, it was rescheduled for 8.30 a.m., when the mission director initiated the automatic launch sequence, with the lift-off again rescheduled for 8.45 a.m. However, just five seconds before lift-off, the launch was put on hold as the engine ignition did not happen. ISRO scientists and engineers at Sriharikota quickly corrected all anomalies and sprang back to launch the TV-D1 at 10 a.m. After the test vehicle lifted off from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, it ticked all the boxes for ISRO to declare that the TV-D1 test flight had been accomplished, and the crew escape system (CES) had performed as intended. The Indian Navy then recovered the crew module after it touched down in the Bay of Bengal, and brought it to Chennai port to hand it over to the ISRO. After the successful launch, the ISRO Chairman announced that the first unmanned Gaganyaan vehicle mission would take place in the beginning of 2024. “The purpose of this mission was to demonstrate the Crew Escape System for the Gaganyaan program through a test vehicle demonstration in which the vehicle went up to a Mach number which is the speed of sound, slightly above it, and initiated an abort condition for the CES to function,” ISRO chief S. Somanath said. “The CES took the crew module away from the vehicle, and subsequent operations of the crew module separation of the crew escape system, all the parachutes opening and touch down at the sea at the required velocity has been very well accomplished and we have confirmation of the data for all of this,” he added. In an earlier interview with The Hindu, Mr. Somanath gave details about the test, the crew module, and preparations for the human spaceflight programme. The Hindu Explains Why did the Supreme Court not allow same-sex marriage? | Explained Does India need to relook the Dam Safety Act? | Explained The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz What is the name of the country’s first RRTS that was inaugurated by PM Modi on October 20? Namo Bharat Ujwal yojana Mudra yojana Make in India To know the answer and to play the full quiz, click here. [logo] Editor's Pick 22 October 2023 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( Gaganyaan test flight successful The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has [successfully completed its first test fligh]( to demonstrate a crew escape system for[the Gaganyaan mission that aims at putting humans in space]( after twice rescheduling the flight due to bad weather and then temporarily delaying the launch just five seconds before scheduled lift-off on Saturday due to an anomaly in the system. The [Test Vehicle Abort Mission 1 (TV-D1) flight was meant to simulate an abort situation,]( and demonstrate the system to safely carry the crew module out of the vehicle in case of emergencies. Though it was scheduled to lift off at 8 a.m. on Saturday, it was rescheduled for 8.30 a.m., when the mission director initiated the automatic launch sequence, with the lift-off again rescheduled for 8.45 a.m. However, just five seconds before lift-off, the launch was put on hold as the engine ignition did not happen. ISRO scientists and engineers at Sriharikota quickly corrected all anomalies and sprang back to launch the TV-D1 at 10 a.m. After the test vehicle lifted off from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, it ticked all the boxes for ISRO to declare that the TV-D1 test flight had been accomplished, and the crew escape system (CES) had performed as intended. The Indian Navy then recovered the crew module after it touched down in the Bay of Bengal, and brought it to Chennai port to hand it over to the ISRO. After the successful launch, the ISRO Chairman announced that the first unmanned Gaganyaan vehicle mission would take place in the beginning of 2024. “The purpose of this mission was to demonstrate the Crew Escape System for the Gaganyaan program [through a test vehicle demonstration]( in which the vehicle went up to a Mach number which is the speed of sound, slightly above it, and initiated an abort condition for the CES to function,” ISRO chief S. Somanath said. “The CES took the crew module away from the vehicle, and subsequent operations of the crew module separation of the crew escape system, all the parachutes opening and touch down at the sea at the required velocity has been very well accomplished and we have confirmation of the data for all of this,” he added. In an earlier interview with The Hindu, Mr. Somanath gave details [about the test, the crew module, and preparations for the human spaceflight programme.]( The Hindu Explains [Arrow][Why did the Supreme Court not allow same-sex marriage? | Explained]( [Arrow][Does India need to relook the Dam Safety Act? | ExplainedÂ]( The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz What is the name of the country’s first RRTS that was inaugurated by PM Modi on October 20? - Namo Bharat - Ujwal yojana - Mudra yojana - Make in India To know the answer and to play the full quiz, [click here.]( [Sign up for free]( Today’s Best Reads [[In Frames | Mesmerising nine nights] In Frames | Mesmerising nine nights]( [[Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty | A wake-up call] Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty | A wake-up call]( [[Israel- Hamas war | India sending humanitarian assistance to Gaza Strip] Israel- Hamas war | India sending humanitarian assistance to Gaza Strip]( [[Why did the Supreme Court not allow same-sex marriage? | Explained] Why did the Supreme Court not allow same-sex marriage? | Explained]( Copyright @ 2023, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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