ISRO receives the Gaganyaan crew module structure from KCP Unit
Diversified business group KCP Ltd has handed over the integrated airdrop test-crew module structure to ISRO for its ambitious Gaganyaan mission. The Heavy Engineering Unit of the Chennai-based KCP Ltd received an order from the Bengaluru-headquartered ISRO for the fabrication of two IADT Crew Module structures meant for the demonstration of its technology preparedness levels before the maiden human space flight program.
The first IADT-CM, weighing 3,120 kgs, measuring 3.1 in diameter and 2.6 meters in height, is made of aluminum, and its entire frame comprises more than 100 components. The structure would accommodate major subsystems like parachute system, pyros, avionics, and buoyancy augmentation system. While the designing part was done by ISRO, the KCP-Heavy Engineering Unit fabricated and realized the module at its facilities. At a ceremony held in the city recently, the first IADT Crew Module was handed over to ISRO Human Space Flight Centre acting director R Hutton by KCP Group Chairperson and Managing Director V L Indira Dutt.
The Gaganyaan Mission envisages launching a crew comprising two or three members to an orbit of 400 km for a 3-day mission and bringing them back safely to the earth by facilitating the landing in sea waters. The Crew Module structure, fabricated at KCP facilities, simulates the shape and size of the actual Gaganyaan crew module. The Integrated AirDrop Test would be performed using an IAF chopper by taking the Crew Module to an altitude of 3.6 to 4 km to validate the deceleration system (parachute and pyro's) performance.
