India has moved a step closer to human spaceflight after ISRO successfully tested critical drogue parachutes for the Gaganyaan mission
Imagine a rocket-powered trolley racing along a long track at extremely high speed, then stopping suddenly with massive force. This is exactly what happened in Chandigarh on December 18 and 19. It was a real safety test, not a movie scene, and it brought India one step closer to human spaceflight.
India’s space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), successfully tested a critical safety system for the Gaganyaan mission, which will carry Indian astronauts to space.
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Why were these tests important?
- The tests focused on drogue parachutes.
- A drogue parachute is a small control parachute.
- It works like a brake and stabiliser.
When a space capsule returns from space at extremely high speed, the drogue parachute keeps it stable and slows it down safely. These parachutes must function under intense heat, pressure and force. If they fail, astronauts’ lives are at risk.
Where were the tests done?
The tests were carried out at the Rail Track Rocket Sled facility of the Terminal Ballistic Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh.
The facility resembles a very long railway track. Instead of a train, a rocket-powered trolley runs along the track at extreme speed before stopping suddenly. This recreates the shock and deceleration forces experienced by a space capsule during atmospheric re-entry.
This setup allows scientists to test safety systems on the ground without sending anyone to space.
How does the Gaganyaan parachute system work?
The Gaganyaan Crew Module uses 10 parachutes of four different types, deployed in a carefully planned sequence.
• First, two small parachutes open to remove the protective cover of the parachute compartment.
• Next, two drogue parachutes deploy.
(A drogue parachute is a small stabilising parachute that keeps the capsule aligned and slows it down from very high speed.)
• After the drogue parachutes detach, three pilot parachutes are released.
• These pilot parachutes then pull out three large main parachutes, which slow the capsule to a safe landing speed and ensure a controlled splashdown in the sea.
This sequence ensures a stable, controlled and safe return.
Why are these tests a major milestone?
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan has said that more than 8,000 tests and experiments have already been completed for the Gaganyaan programme.
These include tests related to:
• Clean air supply inside the capsule
• Temperature control
• Waste management
• Emergency scenarios
Each successful test increases confidence in the safety of Indian astronauts during the mission.
What comes next?
Before sending humans to space, ISRO will conduct unmanned missions.
• The first unmanned Gaganyaan mission is scheduled before the end of 2025.
• This will be followed by two more test missions in 2026.
These flights will comprehensively test the rocket, the Crew Module and the re-entry safety systems. One mission will carry Vyommitra, a humanoid robot, to evaluate systems under real space conditions.
Earlier safety tests
ISRO has already completed several key safety trials:
• In July, the service module engines and thrusters were tested to validate manoeuvring and braking in space.
• In August, a five-tonne dummy crew capsule was dropped from a helicopter to test crew recovery systems and parachutes.
• In November, the main parachutes were tested independently.
Each test adds another layer of safety.
Teamwork behind Gaganyaan
These tests were carried out with support from:
• Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
• Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment
• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
• Indian Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard
This coordinated effort ensures that no system is left unchecked.
Why Gaganyaan matters
The Gaganyaan mission aims to send three Indian astronauts around 400 km above Earth for three days and return them safely.
When this happens in 2027, India will become the fourth country in the world—after Russia, the United States and China—to achieve independent human spaceflight.
More than a matter of national pride, Gaganyaan demonstrates how careful testing, patience and a safety-first approach can turn an ambitious dream into reality, one successful test at a time.
Published: 22 Dec 2025, 06:14 pm IST
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