DRDO Qualifies Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute in Key Test

India’s maiden human spaceflight mission received a major boost after the successful qualification level load test of the drogue parachute for the Gaganyaan programme. The test was conducted at the Rail Track Rocket Sledge (RTRS) facility in Chandigarh by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro).

The milestone strengthens India’s preparedness for crewed spaceflight under the ambitious Gaganyaan mission.

High-Intensity Test at RTRS Facility

The qualification test was carried out on February 18 at DRDO’s specialised Rail Track Rocket Sledge facility. RTRS is designed for high-speed aerodynamic and ballistic evaluations, enabling simulation of extreme dynamic conditions.

The drogue parachute was subjected to qualification-level loads higher than the maximum expected during actual flight. This ensured validation of structural integrity and demonstrated additional safety margins in the design. The successful outcome confirms India’s capability in designing and manufacturing high-strength ribbon parachutes for human-rated missions.

Collaborative Effort Across Agencies

The test involved coordinated efforts from DRDO laboratories including the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) and the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), along with the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) of Isro.

Such inter-agency collaboration is critical for ensuring redundancy, reliability and safety in human space missions. The drogue parachute plays a vital role in stabilising and decelerating the crew module during atmospheric re-entry before the deployment of the main parachutes.

Strategic Significance for Gaganyaan

The Gaganyaan programme aims to send Indian astronauts into low Earth orbit aboard an indigenously developed spacecraft. Human-rating of critical systems such as parachutes is essential to ensure crew safety during re-entry and splashdown.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh and DRDO chairman Samir V Kamat congratulated the teams, calling the achievement a significant step towards self-reliance under the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Important Facts for Exams

• Gaganyaan is India’s first human spaceflight programme led by Isro.
• The drogue parachute stabilises and slows the crew module during re-entry.
• RTRS is a specialised DRDO facility for high-speed dynamic testing.
• ADRDE is based in Agra and focuses on aerial delivery systems.

Advancing India’s Human Spaceflight Ambition

The successful qualification test enhances confidence in India’s human-rated recovery systems. With critical technologies undergoing validation, the Gaganyaan mission moves closer to demonstrating India’s capability to independently execute crewed space operations.