Gaganyaan: ISRO demonstrates splash down capability with TV D1 test flight

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the TV D1 test flight on Saturday at 10 AM after a technical snag was discovered at the intended time at approximately 8:30 AM. The uncrewed pod successfully detached from the test flight and landed in the Bay of Bengal demonstrating the splash down capability of the craft. This test was carried out to check the system for crew escape that will be deployed on Gaganyaan, India's first human space voyage. 

The crew escape mechanism safely disengaged from the rocket during the test flight's ascent. 723 seconds after liftoff, the landing occurred with an effective splashdown. 

After the first attempt at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, the launch was withheld 5 seconds before lift-off due to a problem with the rocket's ignition earlier in the day, the space agency was able to successfully complete the flight test on its second attempt. ISRO declared that the cause of the hold had been "identified and corrected". 

An odd stream of smoke was noticed at the base of the newly developed TV D1 rocket as the launch countdown reached the final second before liftoff.

“TV D1 Test Flight is accomplished. Crew Escape System performed as intended. Mission Gaganyaan gets off on a successful note,” the Indian space agency confirmed. 

Mission Gaganyaan

TV D1 Test Flight is accomplished. 

Crew Escape System performed as intended. 

Mission Gaganyaan gets off on a successful note. @DRDO_India@indiannavy#Gaganyaan

— ISRO (@isro) October 21, 2023

The ISRO chief S. Somanath expressed his happiness on the successful testing of the abort test. 

ISRO chief while addressing the media said, “"I am very happy to announce the successful accomplishment of Gaganyaan TV-D1 mission"

ISRO reschedules Gaganyaan launch

ISRO rescheduled the test launch TV-D1 for mission Gaganyaan at 10 AM on Saturday after an anomaly was identified by the onboard computer at T-5 seconds which withheld the launch. Originally the test launch was scheduled at 8 AM which was rescheduled by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for 08:30 AM due to early morning rain and then was again rescheduled for 10 AM after the anomaly was discovered. 

Further the anomaly was identified & rectified by the scientists at ISRO. 

ISRO chief S Somanath said that the lift-off attempt could not happen today and the engine ignition did not happen in the nominal course as he spoke to media when the launch was put on hold. The computer that is performing the job has delayed the launch, we will fix it and perform the launch soon, the ISRO chief said. 

"Gaganyaan's First Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) launch has been placed on hold. The next schedule will be announced soon," ISRO chief S Somnath said.

"The lift-off attempt could not happen today...engine ignition has not happened in the nominal course; we need to find out what went wrong. The vehicle is safe, we need to look at what happened...we will come back soon...the computer which is doing function has withheld the launch...we will correct it and schedule launch soon." the ISRO chief while briefing the media.