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India's Gaganyaan Mission Set for 2027 Launch, Second Air Drop Test Completed
Gaganyaan Mission Air Drop Test Successfully Concluded
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully completed its second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) on April 10 at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This test is part of the Gaganyaan Mission, scheduled for 2027, and was conducted to simulate the re-entry and landing process of the crew module that will carry astronauts during human spaceflight. An Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter lifted the simulated Crew Module to an altitude of about 3 km and released it over a designated drop zone in the sea, near the Sriharikota coast.
Validating Crew Module Technology
The simulated Crew Module used in this test weighed approximately 5.7 tonnes, equivalent to the mass of the actual Crew Module for the first un-crewed Gaganyaan mission (G1). This is considered a crucial step in verifying the sea landing capabilities and safety of the crew module. Through this test, ISRO aims to secure key technologies for the safe return of astronauts and enhance the probability of a successful 'Gaganyaan Mission'.
*Source: YouTube: WION (2026-04-10)*
