Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute Passes Key Qualification Test at DRDO

India's human spaceflight programme has cleared a major safety milestone with the successful qualification-level load test of the Drogue Parachute for the Gaganyaan mission at DRDO's high-speed Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility in Chandigarh.

The test, conducted on 18 February 2026 at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), marks a critical step in validating the parachute system designed to safely stabilise and decelerate the crew module during atmospheric re-entry.

Simulating Loads Beyond Maximum Flight Conditions

The dynamic test was carried out at the specialised RTRS facility, widely used for high-speed aerodynamic and ballistic evaluations.

Importantly, the parachute was subjected to qualification-level loads higher than maximum expected flight loads, demonstrating an additional design safety margin.

The successful outcome confirms the robustness of the system under extreme stress conditions, strengthening mission safety credentials.

Joint Effort Between ISRO and DRDO

The test was conducted through close collaboration between:

• Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (ISRO)

• Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (DRDO)

• Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (DRDO)

The achievement highlights India's growing capability in the design and manufacture of high-strength ribbon parachutes, a critical component in crewed space missions.

Boost to Indigenous Capability Under Atmanirbhar Bharat

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, ISRO and industry partners on the successful test, calling it another significant step toward strengthening India's indigenous technological capabilities.

He described the milestone as advancing the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in the strategic space and defence sectors.

Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO, Dr. Samir V Kamat, also commended the teams involved in achieving the qualification benchmark.

Strengthening Gaganyaan's Safety Architecture

The drogue parachute plays a crucial role in the recovery sequence of the Gaganyaan crew module, ensuring controlled deceleration before deployment of main parachutes.

With this successful qualification test, India moves closer to operational readiness for its first human spaceflight mission, reinforcing confidence in the reliability and safety of critical mission systems.