Gaganyaan Mission: ISRO aborts first test flight launch due to unexplained anomaly
Sriharikota: The much-anticipated maiden test launch of the Gaganyaan space mission, a significant milestone for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), was aborted due to an unexplained anomaly that occurred just moments before lift-off.
Originally scheduled for 8 am today at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, the Test Vehicle Development Flight Mission-1 (TV-D1) faced a series of delays before the automatic launch sequence was abruptly halted at T-5 seconds.
The sequence of events that led to postponement began with adverse weather conditions at the launch site, which initially delayed the lift-off to 8.45 am. After assessing the weather and confirming the readiness of the vehicle, ISRO's mission director granted approval for the launch. However, just moments before lift-off, the automatic launch sequence was initiated smoothly but was halted by the onboard computer, leaving ISRO officials puzzled.
ISRO Chief S. Somanath addressed the situation, stating, "The planned lift-off of the TV-D1 could not proceed as scheduled today. The engine ignition did not occur as expected. We need to determine the root cause of the issue, but I want to emphasize that the vehicle remains in a safe condition."
What stands out in the incident is the onboard computer's capability to place the mission on hold with just 5 seconds before ignition. This demonstrates the robustness of the system, its ability to identify issues, and the promptness with which corrective measures can be taken.
"We will have to reach the vehicle and then look at what has happened. We will come back soon after analysing what has triggered the automatic launch sequence holding the vehicle," added the ISRO chief.
ISRO has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the anomaly to determine the exact cause of the automatic hold sequence. No new launch date has been announced, but the Indian space agency is learnt to have scheduled the launch at 10 AM today once the circumstances are fully analysed.
