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<p data-start="218" data-end="433"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">India&rsquo;s human spaceflight mission took a crucial step forward as the <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Indian Space Research Organisation</span></span> successfully completed a series of critical parachute qualification tests for the Gaganyaan Crew Module.</span></p>
<p data-start="435" data-end="710"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The space agency carried out the drogue parachute deployment qualification tests at the RTRS facility of <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Terminal Ballistic Research Laboratory</span></span> in Chandigarh over December 18 and 19, confirming the effectiveness of a key component of the crew module&rsquo;s deceleration system.</span></p>
<p data-start="712" data-end="1013"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Announcing the development, Union Minister for Science and Technology <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Jitendra Singh</span></span> said,</span><br data-start="829" data-end="832"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">&ldquo;ISRO successfully completed the Drogue Parachute Deployment Qualification Tests for the Gaganyaan Crew Module at the RTRS facility of TBRL, Chandigarh, during 18&ndash;19 December 2025.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p data-start="1015" data-end="1320"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Singh said the tests validated the &ldquo;performance and reliability&rdquo; of the drogue parachutes under varying and extreme flight conditions, calling it an important milestone for the mission.</span><br data-start="1200" data-end="1203"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">&ldquo;Heartening to note that India has moved one more step closer to its first Human Space mission #Gaganyaan,&rdquo; he added.</span></p>
<p data-start="1322" data-end="1742"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">According to ISRO, the Gaganyaan crew module&rsquo;s deceleration system consists of ten parachutes across four different categories, designed to ensure a safe and controlled descent back to Earth. The descent sequence begins with two apex cover separation parachutes that remove the protective cover from the parachute compartment. These are followed by two drogue parachutes, which stabilise the module and reduce its speed.</span></p>
<p data-start="1744" data-end="1944"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Once the drogue parachutes complete their function, three pilot parachutes are deployed to extract three main parachutes. These main parachutes further slow the crew module, enabling a safe touchdown.</span></p>
<p data-start="1946" data-end="2156"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISRO described the drogue parachutes as &ldquo;a crucial component&rdquo; of the system, noting that they play a key role in stabilising the module and bringing its velocity down to safe levels during atmospheric re-entry.</span></p>
<p data-start="2158" data-end="2374"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Explaining the purpose of the recent trials, the space agency said the tests were conducted to assess the performance and reliability of the drogue parachutes under extreme conditions expected during actual missions.</span></p>
<p data-start="2376" data-end="2710"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">&ldquo;The successful completion of these tests marks another significant step toward qualifying the parachute system for human spaceflight,&rdquo; ISRO said, adding that the effort saw active support and participation from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment and other defence research units.</span></p>
<p data-start="2712" data-end="2905" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The successful trials bring ISRO closer to realising <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Gaganyaan</span></span>, India&rsquo;s ambitious plan to send astronauts into space aboard an indigenously developed spacecraft.</span></p>
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ISRO Clears Key Parachute Tests for Gaganyaan

Successful drogue parachute trials mark major step toward India’s first human spaceflight

ISRO Clears Key Parachute Tests for Gaganyaan

Successful drogue parachute trials mark major step toward India’s first human spaceflight

December 20, 2025 | 19:52 IST