DRDO Drogue Parachute Test: India is getting closer to sending people to space. On February 18, DRDO tested an important parachute for the Gaganyaan mission. This parachute is called the drogue parachute. The test happened at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) in the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh. The parachute can help keep astronauts safe when they come back to Earth.
For this mission, keeping astronauts safe is very important. The parachute has to work perfectly in very strong winds and forces when the spacecraft comes back to Earth.
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What the Droge Parachute Does?
Qualification Level Load test of Drogue Parachute for #Gaganyaan programme was successfully conducted at Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of Terminal Ballistic Range Laboratory, DRDO
The test was jointly conducted by teams from Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), ISRO,… pic.twitter.com/Hb0gtOao5c
— DRDO (@DRDO_India) February 19, 2026
The drogue parachute opens high up in the sky while the crew module is coming down. Its job is to slow the spaceship and make it steady after it comes back from space. Only after it does its job, the main parachutes open. The main parachutes slow the capsule even more so it can land safely in the water.
In the recent test the engineers made the parachute handle even stronger forces than it will face in real flight. This is called a “qualification-level load test.” This means the parachute was pushed beyond real-life conditions to make sure it is extra safe.
Clearing this test confirms that the parachute can withstand intense aerodynamic forces during re-entry, a non-negotiable requirement for astronaut survival.
Tested in Extreme Conditions at RTRS
The Rail Track Rocket Sled is a special place where engineers test things at very high speeds. They can make strong winds and forces in a safe way. This helps them check if important systems work before sending people to space.
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The February 18 test had teams from DRDO’s TBRL and Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) along with ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). Working together like this shows how different agencies help make the mission safe.
Even though ISRO leads the Gaganyaan program, DRDO has been helping with safety systems. They make sure astronauts can survive and be rescued safely.
