posted 02-14-2014 10:34 PM               

HAL Delivers the Crew Module (CM) for Human Spaceflight Program (HSP) to ISRO

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has handed over the first "Crew Module Structural Assembly" for the "Human Spaceflight Program" to Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram of ISRO in Bangalore, recently.

Above: On behalf of HAL, quality documents were handed over by
Dr. Jeyakar Vedamanickam, GM, Aerospace Division, HAL (left) to Shri John. P. Zachariah, Director (R&D), VSSC in the backdrop of the Crew Module Structure. (Credit: HAL)

The first Crew Module will be further equipped with systems necessary for crew support, navigation, guidance and control systems by ISRO for experimentation in the forthcoming GSLV-MK3 launch.

"HAL takes pride in the India's space programs and our Aerospace Division has produced this Crew Module in a record time to meet the requirements of ISRO," said Dr. R.K. Tyagi, Chairman, HAL.

Earlier also HAL has contributed in the India's space programs such as "ISRO's Mars Mission" by providing Satellite Structure, Propellant Tankages and supplied thirteen types of riveted structural assemblies, seven types of welded propellant tankages which include the cryogenic liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen tanks and cryogenic stage structures for GSLV D5.

posted 12-17-2014 06:19 PM               

The maiden launch of the 139-foot-tall (42 meter) rocket will loft the CARE (Crew module Atmospheric Reentry Experiment) on a 78 mile (126 kilometer) suborbital flight.

The capsule is the same shape and size as the crew module ISRO plans to use to launch astronauts into orbit. Instrumented with sensors, the 8,000 pound (3,630 kilogram) capsule will six parachutes — two pilot, two drogue and two main parachutes — before splashing down in the Bay of Bengal some 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) southeast of where it launched.

The entire flight is expected to last about 20 minutes.

For more information: Brochure | Launch Updates | Webcast

posted 12-17-2014 10:25 PM               

First Experimental Flight of India's Next Generation Launch Vehicle GSLV Mk-III Successful

The first experimental flight (GSLV Mk-III X/CARE) of India's next generation launch vehicle GSLV Mk-III was successfully conducted today (December 18, 2014) morning from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota. Also known as LVM3-X/CARE, this suborbital experimental mission was intended to test the vehicle performance during the critical atmospheric phase of its flight and thus carried a passive (non-functional) cryogenic upper stage.

The mission began with the launch of GSLV Mk-III at 9:30 am IST from the Second Launch Pad as scheduled and about five and a half minutes later, carried its payload - the 3775 kg Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE) - to the intended height of 126 km. Following this, CARE separated from the upper stage of GSLV Mk-III and re-entered the atmosphere and safely landed over Bay of Bengal with the help of its parachutes about 20 minutes 43 seconds after lift-off.

Two massive S-200 solid strap-on boosters, each carrying 207 tons of solid propellants, ignited at vehicle lift-off and after functioning normally, separated 153.5 seconds later. L110 liquid stage ignited 120 seconds after lift-off, while S200s were still functioning, and carried forward for the next 204.6 seconds.

CARE separated from the passive C25 cryogenic upper stage of GSLV Mk-III 330.8 seconds after lift-off and began its guided descent for atmospheric re-entry.

After the successful re-entry phase, CARE module's parachutes opened, following which it gently landed over Andaman Sea about 1600 km from Sriharikota, there by successfully concluding the GSLV Mk-III X/CARE mission.

With today's successful GSLV Mk-III X / CARE mission, the vehicle has moved a step closer to its first developmental flight with the functional C25 cryogenic upper stage.

posted 07-04-2018 11:26 PM               

Successful Flight Testing of Crew Escape System-Technology Demonstrator

ISRO carried out a major technology demonstration today (July 05, 2018), the first in a series of tests to qualify a Crew Escape System, which is a critical technology relevant for human spaceflight. The Crew Escape System is an emergency escape measure designed to quickly pull the crew module along with the astronauts to a safe distance from the launch vehicle in the event of a launch abort. The first test (Pad Abort Test) demonstrated the safe recovery of the crew module in case of any exigency at the launch pad.

After a smooth countdown of 5 hours, the Crew Escape System along with the simulated crew module with a mass of 12.6 tonnes, lifted off at 07.00 AM (IST) at the opening of the launch window from its pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota today. The test was over in 259 seconds, during which the Crew Escape System along with crew module soared skyward, then arced out over the Bay of Bengal and floated back to Earth under its parachutes about 2.9 km from Sriharikota.

The crew module reached an altitude of nearly 2.7 km under the power of its seven specifically designed quick acting solid motors to take away the crew module to a safe distance without exceeding the safe g-levels. Nearly 300 sensors recorded various mission performance parameters during the test flight. Three recovery boats are being exercised to retrieve the module as part of the recovery protocol.

posted 09-08-2019 09:00 PM               

Selected test pilots underwent extensive physical exercise tests, lab investigations, radiological tests, clinical tests and evaluation on various facets of their psychology.

posted 11-19-2019 09:25 AM               

Seven potential Indian astronauts undergo check-up in Russia

Seven candidates to become gaganauts (a proposed name for Indian astronauts) have undergone a medical check-up in Russia, with five more to go, head of the Glavcosmos company (forming part of the Roscosmos state corporation) Dmitry Loskutov told TASS on Monday (Nov. 18) during the 2019 Dubai Airshow.

"The selection of candidates to become Indian gaganauts is ongoing. Currently, seven candidates have undergone a medical check-up in Russia. Five more candidates are set to undergo the check-up," Loskutov said.

On July 1, Roscosmos informed that Glavcosmos and the Indian Space Research Organization signed a contract on Russia aiding the selection, medical check-up and training of Indian astronauts. On August 22, Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin informed that Russian experts from the Cosmonaut Training Center would hold the selection for the first batch of Indian astronauts.

posted 01-01-2020 10:33 AM               

The selection process is complete. Four astronauts have been identified for the training, which will begin from the third week of January.

posted 03-23-2021 08:21 AM            

Dmitry Rogozin met with Indian cosmonaut candidates

On March 22, 2021, Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin met with Indian cosmonaut candidates who successfully completed general space training in Russia. The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador of India to the Russian Federation, Mr. D.B. Venkatesh Varma and representatives of Roscosmos subsidiaries, who participated in the training of Indian cosmonaut candidates.

The Ambassador of the Republic of India thanked Dmitry Rogozin for supporting the training program for Indian cosmonauts. The contract to train Indian space flight candidates was signed on June 27, 2019 by the Glavkosmos company (part of Roscosmos) and the Human Space Flight Centre under Indian Space Research Organisation.

On February 10, 2020, the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center began the planned training of Indian cosmonaut candidates.

All the preparation and training took place in Russia and included a number of elements necessary for future cosmonauts, such as medical and physical training, studying the Russian language, studying the design, layout and systems of the Soyuz crewed spacecraft.

posted 10-20-2023 01:24 PM               

Gaganyaan TV-D1 Mission

In-flight abort demonstration of crew escape system (CES) at mach number 1.2 with the newly developed test vehicle followed by crew module separation and safe recovery.

Mission Objectives

• Flight demonstration and evaluation of Test Vehicle sub systems.

• Flight demonstration and evaluation of Crew Escape System including various separation systems.

• Crew Module characteristics and deceleration systems demonstration at higher altitude and its recovery.

TV-D1 Vehicle The Liquid propelled single stage Test Vehicle uses a modified VIKAS engine with Crew Module (CM) and Crew Escape System (CES) mounted at its fore end.