The first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) performed efficiently at Sriharikota on Sunday (August 24, 2025) marks an essential step for Gaganyaan, India’s keenly watched programme for sending people to house, A. Rajarajan, senior scientist with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), stated on Monday (August 25, 2025).
The ISRO will observe up IADT-01 with the second Test Vehicle Mission (TV-D2) and the un-crewed Gaganyaan-1 (G1) flight — two of the important trials lined up earlier than the precise mission carrying astronauts — quickly, Mr. Rajarajan instructed The Hindu.
He described the upcoming TV-D2 as a “complex mission” that can put to test the crew escape system (CES) beneath important situations. The ISRO had efficiently achieved the Gaganyaan TV-D1 mission in October 2023. Such assessments are important as security is of paramount significance in manned missions, he stated.
For the uncrewed Gaganyaan-1 (G1) mission, the spacecraft can be launched aboard a human-rated LVM3 rocket. The mission may even have on board Vyommitra, the humanoid robotic developed by the ISRO.
An professional in composite supplies, Mr. Rajarajan took cost because the VSSC’s Director on August 1, 2025 after a six-year stint because the Director of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota (SDSC-SHAR).
‘VSSC plays a major role’
On the success of IADT-01, Mr. Rajarajan stated that as VSSC Director, he was pleased that the test went as anticipated. The VSSC had a main position in IADT-01, being accountable for “90%” of the actions alongside the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) and SDSC-SHAR and different businesses, together with the Indian Air Force, he stated.
IADT-01 efficiently demonstrated the parachute-based crew module deceleration system for Gaganyaan. The 4.8-tonne dummy module was dropped from a top of three km from a Chinook helicopter operated by the IAF.
“VSSC had carried out the end-to-end modelling for this test. The touchdown was achieved as expected. Now, we more or less have a clear picture of parachute deployment and the touchdown conditions,” he stated, including that the info will now be carefully studied to be used in upcoming trials.
“People may think it’s simple, dropping something from a helicopter. But it was a very complex mission, involving enormous instrumentation, design and development,” Mr. Rajarajan stated of IADT-01.
