Drogue parachute deployment tests for Gaganyaan mission successful: ISRO

A bid of qualification tests for drogue parachutes, which person been carried retired to make a deceleration strategy for ISRO's Gaganyaan unit module, were successful, the abstraction bureau said connected Saturday (December 20, 2025).

“These tests were completed astatine the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) installation of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) successful Chandigarh, connected December 18 and 19,” the ISRO said.

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“The deceleration strategy of the Gaganyaan unit module comprises a full of 10 parachutes of 4 types,” the bureau said successful a statement.

According to ISRO, the descent series begins with the separation of 2 apex screen separation parachutes, which region the protective screen from the parachute compartment. This is followed by the deployment of 2 drogue parachutes that stabilise and decelerate the module.

"Upon merchandise of the drogues, 3 aviator parachutes are deployed to extract 3 main parachutes, which further dilatory down the unit module to guarantee a harmless touchdown," ISRO said.

The abstraction bureau said that a important constituent of this strategy is the deployment of drogue parachutes, which play a pivotal relation successful stabilising the unit module and reducing its velocity to a harmless level during re-entry.

"The nonsubjective of this circumstantial trial bid was to rigorously measure the show and reliability of the drogue parachutes nether utmost conditions. Both the RTRS tests connected drogue parachutes were successfully conducted connected December 18 and 19, 2025. Achieving each the trial objectives and confirming their robustness adjacent nether the concern of important saltation successful formation conditions," ISRO stated.

The palmy completion of these tests marks different important measurement toward qualifying the parachute strategy for quality spaceflight, with progressive enactment and information from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment, DRDO, and the TBRL, the connection added.