Why in news?
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted its first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) for the Gaganyaan mission on August 24, 2025, at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
The test was a collaborative effort among ISRO, DRDO, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, and Indian Coast Guard.
 
About the Test

• It involved dropping a 4.8-ton simulated Crew Module from about 3.1 km altitude using an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter over the Bay of Bengal.
• The objective was to validate the entire parachute-based deceleration system for the crew module, crucial for safe splashdown and astronaut recovery.

Significance

• This was a critical system-level qualification test for the crew module’s parachute system, which ensures safe re-entry and recovery of astronauts.
• It involved coordinated efforts from ISRO, DRDO (which designed the parachute system), Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, and Indian Coast Guard.
• The test verified parachute deployment under real flight conditions and validated onboard avionics and data telemetry.

Context for Gaganyaan Mission

• Gaganyaan aims to send a crew of three astronauts to a 400 km orbit for a 3-day mission with safe return to Earth.
• The air drop test is a major milestone in preparing for the first uncrewed mission planned by end of 2025 and the first crewed mission planned for late 2027.
• The parachute system is vital for reducing the descent velocity of the crew module during splashdown.
• This integrated air drop test is one of several planned tests to fully qualify the parachute system under various deployment conditions ahead of the Gaganyaan human spaceflight missions.

This successful test marks a crucial milestone in India's human spaceflight program, proving the effectiveness of the parachute system designed to ensure safe re-entry and recovery for astronauts.

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