- Overview: In a flawless execution of the ‘G1’ mission, ISRO successfully launched and subsequently recovered the uncrewed Gaganyaan Crew Module (CM) from the Bay of Bengal, clearing the final major hurdle for human spaceflight.
- Key Points:
- Launch Vehicle Validation: The Human-Rated LVM3 (HLVM3) rocket successfully placed the module into the intended 400 km Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
- Re-entry Dynamics Tested: Validated the crucial thermal protection systems (heat shields) as the module re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere at blistering speeds.
- Naval Coordination: The recovery operation, dubbed ‘Operation Samudra Gaganyaan’, was swiftly executed by the Indian Navy’s MARCOS commandos and specialized diving support vessels.
- Vyommitra’s Voyage: The mission carried ‘Vyommitra’, a half-humanoid robot, which successfully relayed life-support telemetry data back to the ISRO command center.
Source Link: ISRO Gaganyaan Mission Portal
- Q7. The launch vehicle designated for India’s human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, is the ‘HLVM3’. What does the ‘H’ stand for?
- A) Heavy
- B) Human-Rated
- C) High-Altitude
- D) Hybrid
