Chandigarh: India’s human spaceflight programme has achieved a key milestone with the successful qualification level load test of the Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of Defence Research and Development Organisation at Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh.
The successful testing of the Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute marks a significant advancement in ensuring crew safety for India’s ambitious human space mission.
The Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) is a specialised dynamic test facility used extensively for high-speed aerodynamic and ballistic evaluations.
The qualification level load test of the Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute was conducted to validate its structural integrity and performance under simulated extreme conditions.
The test was carried out on February 18, 2026, with active participation from Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre under Indian Space Research Organisation, Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), DRDO, along with dedicated teams from TBRL.
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Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute: Additional Design Safety Margin
The RTRS dynamic test simulated qualification-level loads that are higher than the maximum flight loads, thereby demonstrating the additional design safety margin built into the Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute.
Officials stated that the successful qualification test of the parachute proves India’s expertise in the design and manufacturing of high-strength ribbon parachutes.
The achievement once again highlights TBRL’s immense contribution by providing advanced test facilities, precision instrumentation, and technical expertise for both space and defence programmes.
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh complimented DRDO, ISRO and industry partners on the successful qualification test of the Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute. He stated that the test is another big step in furthering the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO, Samir V Kamat, also congratulated the teams associated with the successful qualification level load test of the Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute, acknowledging their technical excellence and coordinated efforts.
The successful validation of the Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute reinforces India’s growing capabilities in critical space recovery systems and strengthens the country’s preparedness for its human spaceflight mission.
