India’s ambitious Gaganyaan mission reached another milestone on August 24, 2025, when ISRO successfully carried out the first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) of the Crew Module (CM) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. This test was crucial to validate the parachute-based deceleration system, which ensures the safe return of astronauts during future human spaceflights. The Crew Module (CM) is the heart of the Gaganyaan mission. It is the spacecraft cabin where astronauts will live and operate during the mission. More than just a capsule, it is built to provide safety, support, and survival during one of the riskiest phases of any space mission, re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. IADT-01 success marks key step for Gaganyaan The successful completion of the first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) at Sriharikota on Sunday (August 24, 2025) is a major milestone in India’s Gaganyaan mission, said A. Rajarajan, senior scientist at ISRO and Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). Next in line ISRO will now move ahead with two more critical trials before the manned mission: the second Test Vehicle Mission (TV-D2) and the uncrewed Gaganyaan-1 (G1) flight. Mr. Rajarajan explained: The upcoming TV-D2 is a complex mission that will put the Crew Escape System (CES) to the test under critical conditions. He also recalled that the TV-D1 mission, held in October 2023, was completed and had laid the foundation for further trials. Looking ahead
The test also demonstrated a smooth recovery process, with the simulated module ferried back to Chennai after splashdown. The successful completion of IADT-01 marks a major step forward for India’s first human spaceflight program.
By proving that the Crew Module’s parachute system can handle one of the most dangerous phases of space travel, re-entry and splashdown, ISRO has inched closer to ensuring astronaut safety.
With more tests lined up, the Gaganyaan mission is steadily moving toward making India only the fourth nation to send humans into space.
