ISRO is third time successful in airdrop test
By Chennai: | 25 Aug 2004
Chennai: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted, for the third time, the airdrop test of the instrumented space capsule recovery experiment at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota, about 80 km north of Chennai. The earlier two tests had been conducted from SDSC in June last year.
The space capsule recovery experiment is intended to demonstrate the capability to recover an orbiting space capsule. The experiment envisages the development of a 500-kg recoverable capsule and the associated technologies. The space capsule will be launched on board ISRO's polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) during the second half of 2005.
According to ISRO after its launch by PSLV, the space capsule will remain in orbit for a few days during which it will be used to perform experiments in micro-gravity environment. The capsule will then be de-orbited and it will re-enter the earth's atmosphere.
On re-entry, after initial aerodynamic braking, a parachute system will reduce the touch down velocity. The capsule will splashdown in the Bay of Bengal, about 140 km east of Sriharikota coast. A floatation system will keep the capsule afloat and enable its recovery.
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