Gaganyaan Mission's Safety Net: The Crew Escape System (CES)
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Science and Technology (Space Technology, Gaganyaan Mission, Launch Vehicles - LVM3, Vikas Engine, Cryogenic Technology).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 3 (S&T): Awareness in the fields of Space; Achievements of Indians in science & technology; Indigenization of technology and developing new technology. The Gaganyaan mission and its critical technologies are a major topic.
Key Highlights from the News
India's first human space mission, Gaganyaan, has the Crew Escape System (CES) as its most important safety mechanism.
Its function is to rapidly separate the crew module with the astronauts from the rocket and move it to a safe distance if the rocket malfunctions during the initial phase of launch.
Key Features:
The Gaganyaan mission uses a "puller type" system that "pulls" the crew module upwards. SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket uses a "pusher type" system.
The Integrated Vehicle Health Management system, which includes sensors in the rocket, identifies potential hazards and instructs the CES to activate.
After separation, a multi-stage parachute system is used to slow down the crew module and land it safely in the sea.
ISRO conducted the first successful test of this system in October 2023.
The launch vehicle used for the Gaganyaan mission is the human-rated LVM3 (HLVM3) rocket, which has special safety systems for human missions.
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