The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the qualification-level load test of the Gaganyaan drogue parachute at its Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility in Chandigarh.
The test was carried out at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), which houses the specialised RTRS dynamic testing facility.
The RTRS is extensively used for high-speed aerodynamic and ballistic evaluations and is considered one of India’s most advanced ground-based dynamic testing systems.
The drogue parachute is a crucial component of the Gaganyaan mission. It is deployed during the initial phase of descent to stabilise the crew module and reduce its speed before the main parachutes open. Its reliability is vital to ensuring the safe return of astronauts to Earth.
The qualification test simulated loads higher than the maximum expected during actual flight, demonstrating an additional safety margin in the parachute’s design. Such testing ensures that the system can withstand extreme stress conditions well beyond operational requirements, enhancing mission safety.
The trial was conducted in collaboration with the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) under the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), along with DRDO’s Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE).
Dedicated teams from TBRL provided instrumentation, technical expertise and operational support for the high-speed test.
Officials said the successful evaluation highlights India’s growing expertise in designing and manufacturing high-strength ribbon parachutes for complex aerospace missions. It also underscores TBRL’s continuing contribution to both space and defence programmes through advanced testing infrastructure.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, ISRO and industry partners for the achievement, calling it a major step forward in strengthening the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in critical space technologies.
The Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO also commended the teams involved for achieving the qualification milestone.
With each successful test, Gaganyaan moves closer to realising India’s ambition of sending its own astronauts into space and bringing them back safely using entirely indigenous systems.
WHAT IS INDIA’S GAGANYAAN MISSION?
Gaganyaan is the flagship human spaceflight programme of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) designed to demonstrate the indigenous capability of sending a three-member crew into a Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) for a period of three days.
The mission involves launching a habitable crew module using the human-rated Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3) rocket to an altitude of 400 km and ensuring their safe return by splashing down in Indian waters.
With the first uncrewed flight (G1) scheduled for March 2026, the programme serves as a critical stepping stone towards India’s long-term goals of establishing the Bharatiya Antariksha Station by 2035 and landing an Indian on the Moon by 2040.
