Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is excited to extend an exclusive invitation to students and the general public to be a part of the upcoming Test Vehicle Abort mission-1 (TV-D1) launch, a vital component of the Gaganyaan program. This unique opportunity offers spectators a glimpse into the pioneering world of space exploration.

Registrations for this extraordinary event will open at 18:00 hours IST on October 17, 2023, but be advised that availability is limited due to the nature of the event. The viewing experience will be provided from the Launch View Gallery (LVG), offering a glimpse of the mission, albeit with a relatively short duration. The specially adapted rocket for this mission is poised for liftoff from the First Launch Pad at Sriharikota on October 21, 2023, at 08:00 hours IST.

The significance of this mission lies in ISRO's endeavor to simulate a failure scenario that might occur during a Gaganyaan launch. In the unlikely event of the rocket deviating from its intended path or experiencing anomalies during the flight, a set of safety mechanisms will be activated. These measures will promptly eject the crew module containing Indian astronauts on board. The crew module will then gracefully descend using parachutes and safely splash down into the ocean, paving the way for recovery operations led by the Indian Navy to ensure the astronauts' safe return. ISRO's meticulous testing campaign underscores its commitment to astronaut safety within the crewed spaceflight program.

TV-D1 marks the inaugural test in a series, showcasing the state-of-the-art hardware that ISRO is locally developing exclusively for the ambitious Gaganyaan program. Subsequent to this initial demonstration flight, ISRO will embark on three additional test missions. One of these missions will carry Vyommitra, a sophisticated gynoid laden with sensors. The data collected from these missions will be invaluable in ensuring the astronauts' safety in a microgravity environment.

ISRO's approach, which includes the use of Vyommitra, emphasizes a more humane and ethical stance compared to earlier space agencies, which used animals for similar purposes during the development of their crewed spaceflight programs. ISRO has set forth a series of milestones as it progresses toward the much-anticipated inaugural crewed Gaganyaan flight.

ISRO's First Test Flight of Gaganyaan's Crew Escape System Set for Oct 21

Gaganyaan: ISRO Gears Up for Human-Based Mission: Crew Escape System Test

Who Is Vyommitra? The Female Robot ISRO To Send On Gaganyaan Mission