India’s space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has successfully carried out two crucial tests as part of the preparations for the country’s first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan. These tests were focused on validating and refining the performance of the propulsion system that would be used to launch the mission.
The “hot tests” on the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) were conducted at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. The tests aimed to assess the readiness of the propulsion system for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission.
Gaganyaan Mission Objectives
The main objective of the Gaganyaan project is to demonstrate India’s capability for human spaceflight. The plan involves launching a crew of three members to an orbit of 400km for a three-day mission and bringing them back safely to Earth by landing in the Indian sea waters.
ISRO stated that these tests would further validate and refine the performance of the propulsion system, ensuring its readiness for the Gaganyaan mission. The tests conducted on July 26 marked the second and third hot tests in the Service Module – System Demonstration model (SM-SDM) phase 2 test series. The first hot test was carried out on July 19, 2023.
Upcoming Tests
According to ISRO, three more hot tests are scheduled to demonstrate the de-boosting requirements and off-nominal mission scenarios. These tests will be crucial in assessing the overall performance of the propulsion system under different conditions.
The Gaganyaan SMPS has been designed and developed by the Liquid Propulsion System Centre located in Bengaluru and Valiamala, Thiruvananthapuram. During the tests, the thrusters of the SMPS were operated in both continuous and pulse mode, aligning with the mission profile.
Highlights of the Initial Tests
During the initial hot test, which lasted for 723.6 seconds, the focus was on demonstrating the Orbital Module injection and the calibration burn of the 100 Newton thrusters and Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) engines. The calibration burn was crucial for identifying any non-operational engines, and both the LAM engines and reaction control system (RCS) thrusters performed as expected.
Final Test and Orbit Circularization
The second hot test, with a duration of 350 seconds, aimed to demonstrate the circularization of the Orbital Module to achieve the final orbit. In this test, the LAM engines operated in continuous mode, while the RCS thrusters fired in pulse mode.
The successful completion of these tests brings ISRO closer to realizing the Gaganyaan mission, which will be a significant milestone for India’s space program. The tests have helped validate and refine the performance of the propulsion system, ensuring its readiness for the upcoming human spaceflight mission. With more tests scheduled, ISRO is diligently working towards achieving its goal of demonstrating India’s capability in manned space exploration.
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