The Inand Gaganyaan Missiondian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted the Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Test (IMAT), marking a crucial milestone in preparations for India’s first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, which is scheduled for Q1 2027.
The successful test reinforces ISRO’s human-rating protocols and strengthens astronaut safety preparedness.
Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Test (IMAT)
About IMAT
The Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Test (IMAT) is a critical validation test conducted by ISRO for the Gaganyaan mission.
The test involves dropping a full-scale parachute system from a high altitude to verify its performance during atmospheric re-entry and landing.
The successful completion of IMAT brings India closer to achieving its first human spaceflight capability.
Key Features of IMAT
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IMAT simulates extreme descent conditions, including delayed parachute deployment, to test system reliability.
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It evaluates the structural strength, load-bearing capacity, and stability of the parachute system under high stress.
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The test is a crucial component of human-rating certification, ensuring maximum safety for astronauts during landing.
Gaganyaan Mission
About the Mission
The Gaganyaan mission is India’s first human spaceflight programme, aimed at sending a crew of three astronauts to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at an altitude of approximately 400 km for a duration of three days, followed by a safe return to Earth.
The programme includes multiple unmanned test missions, after which the first manned mission is expected in early 2027.
Significance of Gaganyaan
The successful execution of Gaganyaan will place India among an elite group of spacefaring nations, namely the United States, Russia, and China, that possess indigenous human spaceflight capabilities.
Key Technologies Ensuring Crew Safety
Human-Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3)
The HLVM3 is a human-rated version of ISRO’s LVM3 rocket, redesigned to meet stringent human-rating safety requirements.
It consists of solid, liquid, and cryogenic stages, configured to safely launch the Orbital Module into Low Earth Orbit (400 km).
The launch vehicle is equipped with a Crew Escape System (CES) featuring high burn-rate solid motors, which ensure safe abort capability in case of emergencies during launch or ascent.
Crew Escape System (CES)
The Crew Escape System is designed to rapidly pull the crew module away from the launch vehicle during emergencies, ensuring astronaut survival in critical situations.
Orbital Module (OM)
The Orbital Module consists of:
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The Crew Module (CM), and
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The Service Module (SM).
The Crew Module (CM) is a pressurized, habitable space providing an Earth-like environment for astronauts. It has a pressurized inner structure and an unpressurized outer structure for protection during re-entry.
The Service Module (SM) supports the CM while in orbit by providing thermal control, propulsion, power supply, avionics, and deployment mechanisms. The SM remains unpressurized and is discarded before re-entry.
Conclusion
The successful IMAT marks a significant step toward ensuring astronaut safety and validating critical recovery systems for Gaganyaan. With continued testing and system integration, India is steadily advancing toward its first human spaceflight mission in 2027.