Prelims: Current events national and International importance | Science and Technology
Why in News?
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has completed a series of Crew Module (CM)–Service Module (SM) separation tests ahead of the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission (G1), targeted for launch in 2026.
Gaganyaan Mission
- Aim – To demonstrate India’s human spaceflight capability by sending a crew of 3 astronauts to an orbit of approximately 400 km for a three-day mission and bringing them safely back to Earth.
- Purpose of the Tests – The tests validate the design and reliable functioning of the separation system, including its ability to withstand mechanical shocks.
- Crew Module (CM) – It houses the astronauts during the mission and is designed to return them safely to Earth.
- Service Module (SM) – It supports the Crew Module during the orbital phase of the mission. The CM and SM together form the Gaganyaan Orbital Module.
- CM–SM Separation – The two modules remain connected during launch and the orbital phase.
- Before atmospheric re-entry, the Crew Module separates from the Service Module.
- Separation System – It uses precisely sequenced separation events, pyrotechnic devices and jettisoning mechanisms.
- Umbilical connections carrying electrical and fluid services must also be severed.
- Critical Systems Tested – These include avionics, inertial navigation systems, thermal protection systems, heat shields, deployable umbilical shields and crew-module uprighting mechanisms.
- Test Facility – The test setup was established at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
- Mission Recovery – The Crew Module is intended to re-enter Earth's atmosphere and splash down in Indian sea waters.
Reference
The Hindu| Gaganyaan Mission – Crew Module–Service Module Separation Test
