By A Correspondent

New Delhi: In a significant step toward India’s first human spaceflight mission, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted a critical test of the main parachutes for the Gaganyaan Crew Module at the Babina Field Firing Range (BFFR) in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, on Nov. 3, 2025.

This test forms part of a series of Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Tests (IMAT) designed to qualify the complex parachute system that will ensure a safe re-entry and landing of Indian astronauts during the Gaganyaan mission, ISRO said in a statement on Nov. 11, 2025.

The Crew Module’s parachute system consists of 10 parachutes of four types, including apex cover separation, drogue, pilot, and main parachutes. The multi-stage deployment sequence begins with drogue parachutes to stabilise the module, followed by pilot and main parachutes that slow it down for a safe splashdown.

Built with redundancy, even two out of three main parachutes are sufficient for a secure landing, according to ISRO.

The test simulated one of the most extreme descent conditions, a delayed disreefing between two main parachutes, to assess load distribution and structural integrity.

A simulated module mass was dropped from an altitude of 2.5 km using an Indian Air Force IL-76 aircraft, with the parachute system performing flawlessly, achieving a stable descent and soft landing.

This successful demonstration underscores the robustness and reliability of India’s human spaceflight recovery system, with contributions from ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Defence Research and Development Organisation’s Agra-based Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment (ADRDE), the Indian Air Force, and the Indian Army.

The achievement marks another vital milestone toward the Gaganyaan mission, reaffirming India’s readiness to join the elite group of nations capable of human space travel.

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