ISRO & Navy Sea Trials: India’s first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, is getting closer to happening. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Indian Navy have finished important recovery trials, ISRO said on Tuesday. The trials took place off the coast of Visakhapatnam on December 6, using a special ship from the Navy. This method is very important to safely bring astronauts back after their mission in space.
According to Economictimes, ISRO explained, “Once the Crew Module (CM) touches down in the sea at the end of the mission, the crew must be recovered as quickly and comfortably as possible.” A well deck is a part of the ship that can be filled with water to help spacecraft like the CM dock easily. “One of the preferred options involves towing the module, with the crew inside, into the ship’s well deck, allowing them to exit the CM comfortably,” ISRO added.
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The trials used a mock-up of the CM, designed to look like the real thing. The team practiced towing the module, placing it inside the ship, and draining the water from the well deck. These steps helped the team understand their tasks and check the process for recovery.
“This trial validated the overall sequence of operations, and ground fixtures, and will help in fine-tuning SOPs,” ISRO said. These trials are part of training to finalize how to recover astronauts in different situations.
Earlier, in May 2023, ISRO and the Navy shared the Gaganyaan recovery plan at the Water Survival Training Facility (WSTF) at INS Garuda, Kochi. This is part of their preparation for the mission.
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“The primary objective is to minimise recovery time and ensure the least discomfort for the crew once the Crew Module touches down in the sea. By practising these intricate manoeuvres, ISRO and the Indian Navy aim to fine-tune their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for both nominal and unexpected conditions,” ISRO said, according to Timesofindia.
