India Announces Phase Two of Spacecraft Testing

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced the date for the start of phase two of the preparatory tests for the launch of its crewed spacecraft. Regarding the topic, the head of the spaceflight project management said: "We plan to conduct the second phase of tests on the Gaganyaan vehicle in the first quarter of 2024. In this phase, we will test the emergency rescue systems of the spacecraft, designed to save crews at high and low altitudes." He added: "This phase will realistically simulate a Gaganyaan mission and will involve testing the control systems, crew seats, and various other components of the vehicle." ISRO conducted the first phase of tests on October 21st, during which the crew's rescue capsule was successfully launched into the air and landed in the waters of the Bay of Bengal. In the second phase of testing, the focus will be on ensuring the capsule lands smoothly and does not overturn during descent.