Bengaluru-based Alpha Design Technologies, which developed the critical crew module (CM) for the successful first Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) on October 21, will supply three more crew modules and other critical items like front cones for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission.
The crew module was indigenously manufactured at Alpha Design Technologies at Peenya Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram. The crew module is where astronauts are contained in a pressurised earth-like atmospheric condition during the Gaganyaan mission.
The crew module for the Gaganyaan mission is in different stages of development. For the TV-D1, the crew module was an unpressurised version.
Prior to the launch, ISRO had said that the crew module in this mission is extensively instrumented to capture the flight data for evaluation of the performance of various systems.
The crew module was recovered after touchdown in the Bay of Bengal, using a dedicated vessel and diving team from the Indian Navy.
“Alpha Design Technologies factories will supply three crew modules and other critical items like front cones etc. Three crew modules will be made and supplied initially and later some more numbers may be developed if orders are placed,” said Col.(retd) H.S. Shankar, chairman and managing director, Alpha Design Technologies.
Next up, the first unmanned Gaganyaan vehicle mission would take place in the beginning of 2024 and another one carrying Vyommitra, the female robot astronaut, will also be launched before the manned mission which is scheduled for 2025.
Mr. Shankar added that stringent quality assurance tests were carried out on the crew module as per ISRO standards both at Alpha factories and ISRO facilities.
