ISRO accomplishes first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) for Gaganyaan at Sriharikota
ISRO accomplished the first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) of the Gaganyaan crew module's parachute-based deceleration system at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on 24 August 2025.
Summary
ISRO accomplished the first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) for the Gaganyaan programme at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, on 24 August 2025, validating end to end the parachute-based deceleration system of the Crew Module. A simulated crew module of about 4.8 tonnes was released from about 3 km altitude by an Indian Air Force Chinook heavy-lift helicopter. Ten parachutes of four types — Apex Cover Separation (2), Drogue (2), Pilot (3) and Main (3, each 25 m in diameter) — deployed in sequence and reduced the terminal velocity to about 8 m/s. The test simulated a possible abort scenario on the launch pad; the module was recovered after splashdown and ferried on INS Anvesha to Chennai port. DRDO, the IAF, the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard also contributed.
Key facts
- Date / site
- 24 Aug 2025, SDSC Sriharikota
- Test
- IADT-01, Gaganyaan crew module parachute system
- Test article
- Simulated crew module, ~4.8 t, dropped from ~3 km
- Helicopter
- IAF Chinook
- Parachutes
- 10 in all: ACS 2, Drogue 2, Pilot 3, Main 3 (25 m)
- Touchdown speed
- ~8 m/s
- Scenario
- Pad abort
- Recovery
- INS Anvesha to Chennai port
Practice MCQs 4 questions
ISRO's first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) for the Gaganyaan programme on 24 August 2025 was conducted at:
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota
ISRO accomplished IADT-01 for the Gaganyaan programme at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, on 24 August 2025.
In IADT-01 (August 2025), the simulated Gaganyaan crew module was released from about 3 km altitude using which helicopter?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — IAF Chinook
The simulated crew module (about 4.8 t) was released from an altitude of about 3 km using the Indian Air Force's Chinook heavy-lift helicopter.
How many parachutes in total were deployed in sequence in ISRO's IADT-01 test of the Gaganyaan crew module deceleration system?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 10
Ten parachutes of four types deployed in sequence: Apex Cover Separation (2), Drogue (2), Pilot (3) and Main (3), bringing the terminal velocity down to about 8 m/s.
Consider the following statements about ISRO's IADT-01 (24 August 2025): 1. The test simulated a possible abort scenario on the launch pad. 2. After splashdown, the simulated crew module was recovered and ferried on INS Anvesha to Visakhapatnam. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct: the test simulated a possible abort scenario on the launch pad. Statement 2 is incorrect: the module was ferried on INS Anvesha to Chennai port, not Visakhapatnam.