The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a major milestone in its Gaganyaan mission by successfully conducting an air drop test of the crew module on Friday. The test involved a simulated crew module, weighing approximately 5.7 tonnes, which was released from a Chinook helicopter at an altitude of 3 kilometers over the Bay of Bengal. The module was dropped into a designated drop zone in the sea, where it deployed ten parachutes of four different types in a pre-planned sequence, ensuring a gradual reduction in velocity for a safe splashdown. Following the drop, the crew module was recovered with the assistance of the Indian Navy. This test validated the parachute-based deceleration systems essential for the crew module's safe operation. The Gaganyaan mission aims to conduct three uncrewed missions followed by one crewed mission, marking India's first attempt to send astronauts into space.