Milestone for India’s Human Spaceflight Ambitions
Gaganyaan Propulsion System Clears Key Spaceflight Test: ISRO has successfully completed two hot tests of the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS), a major development for India’s human spaceflight program. These tests, held in July 2025, verified the system’s ability to handle real flight conditions and confirmed its operational safety.
Role of the Service Module Propulsion System
The SMPS is part of the Orbital Module in the Gaganyaan mission. It controls orientation, executes trajectory corrections, and handles emergency aborts during the mission.
The propulsion system includes:
- 5 Liquid Apogee Motors (LAMs), each generating 440 Newtons of thrust.
- 16 Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters, each producing 100 Newtons.
These thrusters can work in steady-state and pulse modes to ensure precise movement in orbit.
Details of the Recent Hot Tests
Two separate tests were conducted:
- A 30-second duration test.
- A 100-second test simulating more complex scenarios.
The 100-second test was especially critical. It confirmed that all RCS thrusters and LAM engines could function simultaneously in different operational modes. All test parameters remained stable and matched predictions.
Technological Leadership of LPSC
The Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), a key ISRO unit, leads the development of the SMPS. Engineers used previous test data to enhance the propulsion system’s design.
The current test article incorporated improved components and layout to better reflect actual flight conditions.
Static GK fact: LPSC has its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, and has been pivotal in developing engines for PSLV, GSLV, and now Gaganyaan.
A Step Closer to Human Spaceflight
The Gaganyaan mission is India’s first attempt to send astronauts into low Earth orbit (LEO) and bring them back safely. The SMPS plays a vital role in:
- Stabilizing spacecraft in orbit.
- Enabling abort sequences in case of failure.
- Assisting in re-entry orientation.
Any failure in this system could risk crew safety. Hence, these successful tests are significant steps toward the mission’s final crewed flight.
Static GK Tip: India will become the fourth country after the USA, Russia, and China to launch a crewed mission into space.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Gaganyaan Propulsion System Clears Key Spaceflight Test:
| Topic | Detail |
| Mission Name | Gaganyaan |
| Test Conducted | Two hot tests (30 sec and 100 sec) |
| Test Date | July 14, 2025 |
| Key Engines | 5 Liquid Apogee Motors (440 N), 16 RCS thrusters (100 N) |
| Lead Agency | ISRO |
| Development Unit | Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) |
| Test Outcome | All parameters within expected range |
| Orbit Target | Low Earth Orbit (LEO) |
| Mission Goal | India’s first human spaceflight |
| Significance | Validates propulsion system for orbital control and aborts |
