GAGANYAAN PROGRAMME CRYOGENIC ENGINES TESTING

GAGANYAAN PROGRAMME CRYOGENIC ENGINES TESTING

Context:

On 12 January 2022, qualification testing of cryogenic engines for the Gaganyaan program was conducted by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.

Key Points:

• At ISRO Propulsion Complex, in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, the test was conducted for 720 seconds.
• During the test, engine performance fulfilled test objectives. Engine parameters were also closely matched to predictions.

Gaganyaan Program:

• It is a crewed orbital spacecraft with Indian crew members.
• It is an important spacecraft of the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme.
• The spacecraft is being designed in a way that it can carry Indian astronauts.
• Its improved version will be equipped with rendezvous and docking capability.
• In its first mission, Gaganyaan will orbit the Earth at a distance of 400 km (250 mi) for seven days with a group of two or three people on board.

Launch:

• Gaganyaan will be launched using GSLV Mk III or Launch Vehicle Mark-3, the three-stage heavy-lift launch vehicle.
• In December 2021, the first crewed mission was scheduled to be launched on ISRO's GSLV Mk III, but this has been delayed until 2023.