Before Gaganyaan, ISRO to conduct two ‘abort missions’

New Delhi: The Indian Space & Research Organisation (ISRO) will conduct two unmanned abort missions before the final execution of the Gaganyaan mission to ensure the safety of the crew. In an interview given to The Indian Express, ISRO Chairman S Somnath said that the space agency will conduct the abort missions in September and December. His statement also indicates that the mission is going to be furthermore delayed.

It has been reported earlier that the mission is likely facing another two years of delay as Isro focuses on perfecting the system that will launch and land Indians on missions to space. Gaganyaan, which was planned to be launched in 2022 to mark India's 75th year of independence, has already faced delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the successive lockdowns.

"Our first priority is human safety. So, we are now focusing on abort missions — that is simulating failures and bringing the crew back safely under those circumstances. The first Test Vehicle for this purpose is ready and we will launch it in September this year," the ISRO chairman said in the interview.

During the test mission, the spacecraft will be launched to an altitude of 15 kilometres during which Isro will simulate an abort scenario after which the crew capsule will return to Earth under parachutes. During the second simulation, Isro will launch the Gaganyaan crew capsule to a higher altitude and undergo a similar abort scenario to perfect the system.

"We are intentionally delaying the manned mission as this is a very dangerous mission. If this is not successful, then the entire project may even have to be closed down. So, we have to be extremely accurate and absolutely sure. An unsuccessful mission will have a terrible impact on the system as well as on ISRO," the Secretary, Department of Space said.

Somnath's comments come days after the space agency successfully conducted a static fire test of the boosters that will power Gaganyaan. The solid rocket booster HS200 was fired at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The rocket will form the first stage of the launch vehicle for the mission Moon.

The HS200 booster loaded with 203 tons of solid propellant was tested for a duration of 135 seconds. The 20 m long and 3.2 m diameter booster is the world's second-largest active booster with solid propellant.

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