TV-D1

Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1
	TV-D1 lifts off
Names	Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1; TV-D1
Mission type	In-flight abort test
Operator	ISRO
Apogee	15 km (9.3 mi)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type	Gaganyaan
Manufacturer	Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Launch mass	44 Tons
Landing mass	4.5 tons
Dry mass	17 tons
Dimensions	Length: 34.954 m Diameter: 2.1 m (stage) , 4.05 m (CES)
Start of mission
Launch date	21 October 2023
Rocket	Gaganyaan Abort Test Booster (modified GSLV L40 stage)
Launch site	First Launch Pad Satish Dhawan Space Centre
End of mission
Landing site	Bay of Bengal
	; Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 Patch IHSP ← PAT TV-D2 →

Last updated October 23, 2023

Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) was a high altitude abort test performed as part of the Gaganyaan program, initially set to be held on 21 October 2023 at around 02:30 UTC (08:00 IST).^[1]^[2]^[3] Liftoff was delayed to 03:15 UTC due to weather issues, and five seconds before launch it was put on hold by the on-board computer due to an engine anomaly, as reported in ISRO's mission livestream. The launch occurred at 04:30 UTC, and the crew module successfully separated from the launch vehicle.^[4]^[5] The crew module was successfully recovered by the Indian Navy.^[6] India is the fourth country, after Russia, the United States, and China, to successfully test this technology.^[7]

Background

In April 2022, it was proposed that both demonstration missions should have a depressurized crew module.^[8] On 10 August 2022 ISRO performed a successful static test of the Crew Escape System (CES).^[9] The crew module fairing and the high altitude abort engine were delivered by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited on 18 August 2022.^[10] In December 2022, the structural qualification test for the crew module fairing with grid fins was successfully completed for the TV-D1 configuration.^[11] In August 2023, the rocket was ready at Sriharikota and the test was scheduled for late September.^[12] TV-D1 is the first development flight from the Gaganyaan program.^[10] Gaganyaan-1, the first orbital test flight, is planned to take place in 2024.^[13]

The crew module used for TV-D1, was an unpressurised version that had completed its integration testing. This unpressurised module was required to have an overall size and mass of an actual Gaganyaan crew module, and housed all systems required for deceleration and recovery, including a complete set of parachutes, recovery aids actuation systems, and pyros. The avionics systems operate in a dual-redundant mode for navigation, sequencing, telemetry, instrumentation, and power. The crew module in this mission was extensively instrumented to capture the flight data for evaluation of the performance of various systems. The crew module was planned to be recovered after touchdown in the Bay of Bengal using a dedicated vessel and diving team from the Indian Navy.^[14]

With a rocket based upon the GSLV L40 stage,^[15] TV-D1 was to be launched up to 11 km above sea level, where an in-flight abort scenario would be initiated. The capsule was expected to then continue another 4–5 km. The mission aimed to test the CES's separation from the rocket, ability to maintain a trajectory leading to a safe distance, and eventual parachute deployment.^[14]^[16]^[10]

The mission was to be tracked by a ground team at Sriharikota.^[16]^[10]

Mission objectives

Flight demonstration and evaluation of the test vehicle subsystems
Flight demonstration and evaluation of the CES, including various separation systems
Crew Module characteristics and demonstration of deceleration systems at higher altitude and its recovery

Results

The launch occurred at 04:30 UTC, and the crew module successfully separated from the launch vehicle.^[4]^[5] The crew module was successfully recovered by the Indian Navy.^[6]

Gallery

Gaganyaan development timeline
Gaganyaan Test Vehicle for TV-D1 abort test
Gaganyaan TV-D1 test article
TV-D1 flight profile
TV-D1 test article with aeroskirt housing gridfins
TV-D1 integration
Stacking of TV-D1
TV-D1 on pad
The Gaganyaan capsule, along with the escape booster on the launchpad
TV-D1 launch slow-mo
TV-D1 onboard video
Gaganyaan TV-D1 capsule successfully secured on deck

Related Research Articles

The Indian Space Research Organisation is the national space agency of India. It operates as the primary research and development arm of the Department of Space (DoS), which is directly overseen by the Prime Minister of India, while the Chairman of ISRO also acts as the executive of DoS. ISRO is primarily responsible for performing tasks related to space-based operations, space exploration, international space cooperation and the development of related technologies. ISRO is one of the six government space agencies in the world that possesses full launch capabilities, can deploy cryogenic engines, can launch extraterrestrial missions and operate a large fleet of artificial satellites. ISRO is one of the four government space agencies to have soft landing (uncrewed) capabilities.

A launch escape system (LES) or launch abort system (LAS) is a crew-safety system connected to a space capsule. It is used in the event of a critical emergency to quickly separate the capsule from its launch vehicle in case of an emergency requiring the abort of the launch, such as an impending explosion. The LES is typically controlled by a combination of automatic rocket failure detection, and a manual activation for the crew commander's use. The LES may be used while the launch vehicle is still on the launch pad, or during its ascent. Such systems are usually of three types:

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A pad abort test is a kind of test of a launch escape system which conducted by setting the system along with the spacecraft still on the ground and let the system activate to carry the spacecraft flying away, then separate in the air and make the spacecraft land safely. The purpose of the test is to determine how well the system could get the crew of a spacecraft to safety in an emergency on the launch pad. As the spacecraft is set still on the ground, the test is also called "zero-altitude abort test" in against "high-altitude abort test".

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References

↑ "First Crew Module for Gaganyaan test flight takes shape". www.isro.gov.in. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
↑ "TV-D1 Flight Test". X (formerly Twitter). Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
↑ "First Gaganyaan uncrewed module to be injected in 170x408km orbit; indicates human spaceflight profile". The Times of India. 28 April 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
1 2 "Gaganyaan mission test flight live updates: Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 has been put on hold". The Times of India. 21 October 2023. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
1 2 Gaganyaan TV-D1 Mission – Test flight from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota, archived from the original on 20 October 2023, retrieved 21 October 2023
1 2 "Multiple cams& drones, multiple ships and small boats..." X (formerly Twitter). Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
↑ "Mission Gaganyaan: Better safe than starry". The Economic Times. 18 May 2022. ISSN 0013-0389. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
↑ "Gaganyaan: First uncrewed mission to have unpressurised crew module". The Times of India. 29 April 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
↑ "Gaganyaan: Low Altitude Escape motor of crew escape system tested". The Times of India. 11 August 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
1 2 3 4 "Gaganyaan: Isro receives key hardware from HAL". The Times of India. 18 August 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
↑ "Government of India. Monthly Summary of the Department of Space for the month of December, 2022– reg" (PDF). Government of India Department of Space. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
↑ "Chandrayaan-3 on Moon: What's next for Isro?". India Today. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
↑ Livemint (16 March 2023). "Govt shares an update on Gaganyaan, first abort mission likely in two months". mint. Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
1 2 "First Crew Module for Gaganyaan test flight takes shape". www.isro.gov.in. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
↑ "2 key Gaganyaan crew abort tests, Aditya top priority". The Times of India. 2 February 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 18 February 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
1 2 "Gaganyaan abort test: Vehicle to go up to 11km, crew module around 15km". The Times of India. 20 July 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.

Bibliography

ANI (13 September 2022). "First trial for Gaganyaan to be done by end of 2023, or beginning of 2024: Jitendra Singh". Times of India . Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
Kumar, Chenthan (13 October 2022). "Gaganyaan: First abort test likely only in early 2023". Times of India . Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
Singh, Surendra (28 October 2022). "First test-flight of Gaganyaan mission in February: Isro official". Times of India . Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
"Will conduct 6 test launches before manned mission, building some Gaganyaan systems in-house to cut cost: Isro chief". Times of India . 5 January 2023. Archived from the original on 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
Kumar, Chethan (25 February 2023). "Gaganyaan: First abort test moves a step closer; Isro receives simulated crew module structure assembly". Times of India . Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
Kumar, Chethan (23 June 2023). "'Isro to test Gaganyaan escape system in August'". Times of India . Archived from the original on 25 June 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.

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[:0-1] "First Crew Module for Gaganyaan test flight takes shape". www.isro.gov.in. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.

[2] "TV-D1 Flight Test". X (formerly Twitter). Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.

[3] "First Gaganyaan uncrewed module to be injected in 170x408km orbit; indicates human spaceflight profile". The Times of India. 28 April 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.

[:1-4] 1 2 "Gaganyaan mission test flight live updates: Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 has been put on hold". The Times of India. 21 October 2023. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.

[:2-5] 1 2 Gaganyaan TV-D1 Mission – Test flight from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota, archived from the original on 20 October 2023, retrieved 21 October 2023

[:3-6] 1 2 "Multiple cams& drones, multiple ships and small boats..." X (formerly Twitter). Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.

[7] "Mission Gaganyaan: Better safe than starry". The Economic Times. 18 May 2022. ISSN 0013-0389. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.

[8] "Gaganyaan: First uncrewed mission to have unpressurised crew module". The Times of India. 29 April 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.

[9] "Gaganyaan: Low Altitude Escape motor of crew escape system tested". The Times of India. 11 August 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.

[:4-10] 1 2 3 4 "Gaganyaan: Isro receives key hardware from HAL". The Times of India. 18 August 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.

[11] "Government of India. Monthly Summary of the Department of Space for the month of December, 2022– reg" (PDF). Government of India Department of Space. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.

[12] "Chandrayaan-3 on Moon: What's next for Isro?". India Today. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.

[13] Livemint (16 March 2023). "Govt shares an update on Gaganyaan, first abort mission likely in two months". mint. Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.

[:6-14] 1 2 "First Crew Module for Gaganyaan test flight takes shape". www.isro.gov.in. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.

[15] "2 key Gaganyaan crew abort tests, Aditya top priority". The Times of India. 2 February 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 18 February 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2023.

[:5-16] 1 2 "Gaganyaan abort test: Vehicle to go up to 11km, crew module around 15km". The Times of India. 20 July 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.

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