Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Saturday announced the successful completion of Drogue Parachute Deployment Qualification Tests for the Gaganyaan Crew Module, marking a key milestone in India’s human spaceflight programme.
The tests were conducted on December 18 and 19, 2025, at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh.
According to ISRO, the drogue parachutes are a critical component of the crew module’s deceleration system, which comprises a total of 10 parachutes of four different types. These parachutes are designed to ensure safe stabilisation and reduction of speed during the crew module’s descent and re-entry phase.
Explaining the descent sequence, ISRO said that the process begins with the separation of two apex cover separation parachutes, which remove the protective cover of the parachute compartment. This is followed by the deployment of two drogue parachutes that stabilise and decelerate the module. Subsequently, three pilot parachutes are deployed to extract three main parachutes, which further slow down the crew module to enable a safe touchdown.
The space agency stated that the objective of the test series was to rigorously evaluate the performance and reliability of the drogue parachutes under extreme conditions, including significant variations in flight parameters. Both tests achieved all planned objectives, confirming the robustness of the system.
ISRO noted that the successful completion of these tests is a major step toward qualifying the parachute system for human spaceflight. The effort was carried out with active support from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and TBRL.
The achievement further strengthens India’s preparedness for the upcoming Gaganyaan missions, aimed at safely sending Indian astronauts into space and bringing them back to Earth.
