ISRO Pad Abort Test

{{Short description|Indian Space Research Organization launch test}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Use Indian English|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox spaceflight | name = ISRO Pad Abort Test | image = File:ISRO Pad abort test Crew Module lifting off.jpg | image_size = 250px | image_caption = | insignia = | height = | mission_type = [[Launch escape system]] | operator = [[ISRO]] | mission_duration = 4 minutes, 25 seconds | suborbital_apogee = {{convert|2.75|km|mi|2|abbr=on}}, | spacecraft_type = [[Gaganyaan]]'s [[Boilerplate (spaceflight)|boilerplate]] vehicle | manufacturer = ISRO | launch_mass = 12.6 ton <ref name="Rajyasabha">{{cite web |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/ISRO/comments/5et61z/parliamentary_qa_25_nov_2016_queries_on_crew |title= Parliamentary Q&A [25 Nov 2016]: Queries on Crew Escape System, Chandrayaan-2 rover and MOM-2|date= 25 November 2016}}</ref> | launch_date = 5 July 2018 | launch_rocket = | launch_site = [[Satish Dhawan Space Centre]] | programme = [[Indian Human Spaceflight Programme|IHSP]] | previous_mission = [[Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment|CARE]] | next_mission = [[TV-D1]] }}

The '''ISRO Pad Abort Test''' was a [[launch escape system]] test by [[ISRO]] of its crew module as part of [[Indian Human Spaceflight Programme]]. The successful test took place on 5 July 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/07/isro-pad-abort-test-indian-human-program/|title=ISRO conducts pad abort test for Indian human space flight program – NASASpaceFlight.com|website=www.nasaspaceflight.com|date=4 July 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-07-05}}</ref> A Pad Abort Test is a trial run for the spacecraft's launch abort system (sometimes called a launch escape system). This system is designed to quickly get the crew and spacecraft away from the rocket in the event of a potential failure. It is similar to an ejection seat for a fighter pilot, but instead of ejecting the pilot out of the spacecraft, the entire spacecraft is "ejected" away from the launch vehicle. The technology developed is expected to be applied to the first Indian crewed spacecraft called ''[[Gaganyaan]]'', scheduled to be launched no earlier than 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-06-30 |title=Gaganyaan mission can't happen this year or next year, focus fully on safety aspects: Isro chief |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/gaganyaan-mission-cant-happen-this-year-or-next-year-focus-fully-on-safety-aspects-isro-chief/articleshow/92579979.cms |access-date=2023-05-21 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

== Flight == [[File:The Crew Module, part the Crew Escape System (CES), floating back to earth under its parachutes over the Bay of Bengal about 2.9 km from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.JPG|thumb|The Gaganyaan Crew Module boilerplate, after jettisoning the Crew Escape System (CES), floats back to the ground under its parachutes over the [[Bay of Bengal]], about 2.9 km from the [[Satish Dhawan Space Centre]], Sriharikota.|alt=|299x299px]] The countdown for the test started at 2:00 am (IST) on 5 July 2018. At 7:00 am (IST) The Crew Escape System with crew module successfully lifted-off from [[Satish Dhawan Space Centre]]. The crew module was accelerated to 10 [[G-force|g]]<ref>{{Citation|last1=Baluragi|first1=Hanamantray|title=Indian Space Program: Evolution, Dimensions, and Initiatives|date=2020|url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-030-22786-9_38-2|work=Handbook of Space Security|pages=1–19|place=Cham|publisher=Springer International Publishing|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-3-030-22786-9_38-2|isbn=978-3-030-22786-9|access-date=2020-07-04|last2=Suresh|first2=Byrana Nagappa|s2cid=216447640 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> and reached a highest altitude of {{convert|2.75|km|mi|2|abbr=on}}, it later safely parachuted down and floated in the [[Bay of Bengal]] {{convert|2.9|km|mi|2|abbr=on}} away from its launch site. It was carried skyward using seven solid-fueled rocket motors keeping within the safe g-force limits. Later recovery boats were sent to recover the crew module. The total duration of the test mission was 259 seconds. The test launch process was recorded by around 300 sensors.<ref name="thehindu">{{Cite news|title=ISRO's first 'pad abort' test, critical for future human space mission, successful|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/isros-first-pad-abort-test-successful/article24336860.ece}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.isro.gov.in/hi/update/05-jul-2018/successful-flight-testing-of-crew-escape-system-technology-demonstrator|title=SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT TESTING OF CREW ESCAPE SYSTEM - TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATOR - ISRO|website=www.isro.gov.in|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705234350/https://www.isro.gov.in/hi/update/05-jul-2018/successful-flight-testing-of-crew-escape-system-technology-demonstrator|archive-date=5 Jul 2018|url-status=|access-date=2018-07-05}}</ref> Main objectives of test were nominal 20 second ascent and 200 seconds of descent, not including the splashdown.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sac.gov.in/SacSliderI_Repository/Vyom/English/585/SSAA_HSP-PAT-CES-FLASH_2July2018.pdf|title=ISRO's Human Space Programme: Pad Abort Test (PAT) on 5th July, 2018 Early Morning|last=|first=|date=4 July 2018|website=|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704173738/http://www.sac.gov.in/SacSliderI_Repository/Vyom/English/585/SSAA_HSP-PAT-CES-FLASH_2July2018.pdf|archive-date=4 July 2018|access-date=}}</ref> Chute detachment was a scheduled event occurring around 259.4 seconds after launch as intended.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://astrotalkuk.org/episode-80-s-somnat-director-of-vikram-sarabhai-space-centre/|title=Episode 80 - S Somnath Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre|date=2018-11-30|website=AstrotalkUK|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.isro.gov.in/flight-test-of-crew-escape-system-technology-demonstrator-lift-of-video|title=Flight test of crew escape system - Technology Demonstrator Lift of video - ISRO|website=www.isro.gov.in|access-date=2020-01-12|archive-date=26 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226071754/https://www.isro.gov.in/flight-test-of-crew-escape-system-technology-demonstrator-lift-of-video|url-status=dead}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |+ Sequence of flight events.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.unoosa.org/documents/pdf/copuos/stsc/2019/tech-25E.pdf|title=Recent Indian Space Missions: Update as of February 2019|last=Kunhikrishnan|first=P.|date=15 Feb 2019}}</ref> !Time !Event |- |T0 - 30 minutes |Grid fins deployed |- |T0 - 8 seconds |Separation from launchpad |- |T0 |Ignition of High Altitude Escape Motor (HEM) and Low Altitude Escape Motor (LEM) |- |T0 + 0.9 seconds |Ignition of Pitch Motor (PM) |- |T0 + 2 seconds |Burnout of Pitch Motor (PM) |- |T0 + 5 seconds |Burnout of High Altitude Escape Motor (HEM) |- |T0 + 8 seconds |Burnout of Low Altitude Escape Motor (LEM) |- |T0 + 18 seconds |Crew Escape System/Crew Module aft link separation |- |T0 + 20 seconds |Crew Escape System/Crew Module separation, jettisoning motor ignition |- |T0 + 29 seconds |Parachute deployment |- |T0 + 265 seconds |Crew Module Splashdown. |}

==See also==

* [[Gaganyaan]], India's crewed spacecraft * [[Indian Human Spaceflight Programme]] * [[Launch escape system]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.isro.gov.in/flight-test-of-crew-escape-system-technology-demonstrator-lift-of-video Official video] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226071754/https://www.isro.gov.in/flight-test-of-crew-escape-system-technology-demonstrator-lift-of-video |date=26 February 2021 }}

[[Category:ISRO]] [[Category:Test spaceflights]] [[Category:2018 in spaceflight]] [[Category:Flight abort]]