Gaganyaan: ISRO successfully conducts test vehicle mission despite delay; top leaders laud space agency

The launch was initially scheduled at 8:30 am, but the engine ignition of the TV D1 rocket did not happen in the course of time.

BySouth First Desk

Published Oct 21, 2023 | 1:02 PM ⚊UpdatedOct 21, 2023 | 2:37 PM

Gaganyaan launch

TV-D1 test flight lift off. (ISRO/ X)

The country’s ambitious human space flight mission — Gaganyaan — soared into the skies after initial hiccups.

The Gaganyaan mission was launched successfully at 10 am, after a delay due to an anomaly. The launch was initially scheduled at 8:30 am, but the engine ignition of the TV-D1 rocket did not happen in the course of time.

Following a two-hour delay and nerve-wracking moments, ISRO scientists put the mission back on course 75 minutes later, when they launched the rocket with precision and achieved the goal of Crew Module and Crew Escape separation, which was welcomed with loud cheers at the Mission Control Center in Sriharikota.

The TV-D1 mission was fully achieved, ISRO announced. The payloads later splashed into the sea as planned, a development that witnessed jubilation.

The Gaganyaan programme aims to send humans into space on a Low Earth Orbit of 400 km for three days and bring them safely back to Earth.

Also read: ISRO gears up for first crew module test on 21 Oct

Delay due to anomaly

Addressing the media, ISRO Chairman S Somanath said that the launch has been postponed to 8:45 am due to weather situation.

There was a very smooth airlift and automatic launch sequence leading up to the command to lift off, “but the engine ignition has not happened in the nominal course due to anomaly,” Somanath said, soon after the mission was put on hold.

The ISRO Chairman reassured there was nothing to worry, as the vehicle was safe.

“And we have to find out what went wrong with that. The vehicle is safe, the entire vehicle is very safe. We will have to reach the vehicle and then look at what has happened now,” he said, adding that ISRO will come back soon after analysing what triggered the automatic launch sequence holding the vehicle.

“So what has happened is that the ground support computer doing this function has withheld the launch in view of the anomaly observed. We will come back after understanding the anomaly, correct it and schedule the launch very soon,” the space agency’s chairman said from the Mission Control Center.

He further said that the launch time will be announced a little later.

At 9:07 am, the space agency tweeted that the liftoff of the ISRO test vehicle with crew safety-related payloads in the Gaganyaan mission at Sriharikota was put on “hold”. At 9:35 am, the agency tweeted announcing the new timing of the launch to be at 10 am.

They wrote, “Reason for the launch hold is identified and corrected.”

Related: ISRO to launch first development flight of test vehicle on 21 October

Modi, Stalin laud ISRO 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, on Saturday, that ISRO’s successful launch of a test vehicle as part of its Gaganyaan mission takes India a step closer to realising its first human space flight programme.

In a post on X, he said, “This launch takes us one step closer to realising India’s first human space flight program, Gaganyaan. My best wishes to our scientists at ISRO.”

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also lauded ISRO for successfully conducting the test launch.

The achievement marks a significant milestone in India’s journey to space exploration, Stalin said in a post on X. “Congratulations to @isro on the successful #Gaganyaan TV-D1 test flight! This achievement marks a significant milestone on India’s journey to space exploration. Kudos to the entire team for their dedication and hard work. #ISRO,” he said.

(With PTI inputs)

Tags:  

Recommended For You

Latest News

Top News