The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully completed three key qualification tests for the Crew Module (CM) life support systems as part of preparations for Gaganyaan, India's first crewed space mission.
Preparation for Manned Flights
Before conducting the final manned flight, ISRO has scheduled two crewed missions. The first of these flights is tentatively planned for either the end of this year or in 2027.
Tested Systems and Their Purpose
The recent tests were aimed at verifying systems responsible for post-splashdown recovery, module separation, and parachute deployment. These tests focused on three critical aspects that astronauts cannot control independently: maintaining the capsule's vertical orientation after landing in the sea, ensuring clean separation from the service module before atmospheric entry, and confirming the capsule's ability to withstand loads generated during parachute shroud jettison.
These tests bring the Gaganyaan mission closer to its first crewed flight by validating the functionality of systems central to crew safety.
Details of the Tests Conducted
The three successful tests included: a buoyancy inflation test for the Crew Module Vertical Stabilization System (CMUS); testing the connection and disconnection of the Crew Module Service Module (CSCDS); and a structural qualification test of the Crew Module against loads from aponeurotic cover separation.
Vertical Stabilization System
One of the most crucial requirements for crew safety is ensuring the vertical orientation of the Crew Module after immersion in the sea. A system based on stored cold gas was developed to meet this requirement. A system-level qualification test setup, incorporating all elements of CMUS, was implemented, and tests on the inflation of the primary buoyancy module were successfully conducted. High-pressure gas from a cylinder was used to inflate the buoyancy via control valves. ISRO reported that the tests demonstrated the module's compliance with functional and performance requirements for primary buoyancy deployment.
Module Connection and Separation Functions
The CS-CDS is one of the main systems that serves as the electrical/pneumatic connection between the Crew Module (CM) and the Service Module (SM). All electrical communication between the CM and SM, as well as fluid communication for Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS), passes through the CS-CDS. The mechanism consists of two parts located on the side of the Crew Module (CSU-1) and on the side of the Service Module (CSU-2). ISRO stated that the test showed clean separation of CSU-2, as well as the structural integrity of the Crew Module panel and their interfaces.
Aponeurotic Cover Separation Test
The Crew Module's aponeurotic cover protects the parachutes and associated subsystems during the mission. Before the sequential deployment of parachutes to slow down the Crew Module, the aponeurotic cover is separated at a predetermined altitude using pyrotechnically activated motors. To verify the structural integrity of the Crew Module during the aponeurotic cover separation event, an instrumental test rig was created along with a mock-up of the Crew Module and its related systems. The agency reported that the simulated Crew Module was subjected to approximately 1.75 times the calculated reactive loads at specific points.
