Sriharikota, India – October 21, 2023 – The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the Mission Gaganyaan TV D1 Test Flight today from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India. The launch marks a significant milestone in India’s ambitious human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan.
The TV D1 mission was designed to test the Crew Escape System (CES) of the Gaganyaan crew module. The CES is a critical safety system that will enable astronauts to safely escape from the spacecraft in the event of an emergency during the launch or ascent phase of the mission.
The launch took place at 10:24 AM IST after a brief delay due to an anomaly detected by the onboard computer. The anomaly was quickly identified and rectified, allowing the launch to proceed smoothly.
The TV D1 mission was a success, with the crew module successfully separating from the launch vehicle and splashing down in the Bay of Bengal as planned. The data gathered from this test flight will be crucial for the development of the Gaganyaan program.
ISRO Chairman S. Somanath hailed the successful launch as a “major milestone” for the Gaganyaan program. He also commended the team of scientists and engineers for their dedication and hard work.
The Gaganyaan program aims to send three Indian astronauts to space by 2025. The program is expected to further boost India’s space capabilities and establish the country as a leading player in the global space arena.
With the successful launch of the TV D1 mission, India has taken a significant step towards realizing its dream of sending humans into space. The nation eagerly awaits the next phase of the Gaganyaan program, which promises to be an exciting and inspiring chapter in India’s space journey.
PM Modi wishes “This launch takes us one step closer to realising India’s first human space flight program, Gaganyaan. My best wishes to our scientists at ISRO”.