Bengaluru: After several delays, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), in early Sunday, completed the first integrated Air-Drop Test (IADT-01), which is an important exercise to validate the parachute system, which will be safely brought back to astronauts under the Gaganian Mission, which is from its specialty in Sriharikota. ISRO said in a small statement, “ISRO successfully completed the IADT-01 for the end-to-end performance of the parachute-based recession system for Gaganian missions. The test is a joint effort of ISRO, IAF, DRDO, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.”The IADT-01 was designed to evaluate a full suit of parachutes that will slow down and stabilize the crew module during the re-entry and splashadown of the real human space. It consisted of two dog parachutes for the initial recession, followed by pilot chit and three main parachutes to ensure safe descent.As reported earlier by TOI, after the initial pre-mission tests for the IADT in May 2024, IADT caught the IADT because there was a need to re-look at the “some aspects” of the helicopter selected to test.A source told TOI, “During the pre-mission trial for IADT in Sriharikota, it was observed that the helicopter may have ‘some issues’ that need to be addressed. Now progress is made,” a source told TOI. Those issues have been resolved since then and sources told TOI that once the complete analysis of IADT test data has been completed, future tests will be planned. ISRO’s initial plans were to conduct seven IADT according to the initial plans, with the final number based on the results of the test. In addition to the IADT tests, the Space Agency is also preparing for upcoming tests such as the second Test Vehicle Performance (TV-D2) mission and the first Uncred Gaganian Mission (G1), which will pave the way for the human spaceflight, an Indian woman from India.
