DRDO-ISRO Successfully Qualify Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute in Rail Track Rocket Sled Test at TBRL Chandigarh

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) jointly conducted a critical qualification test for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program on February 18, 2026. The test involved the drogue parachute system for the Gaganyaan crew module and was carried out using the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh.

The RTRS test is designed to simulate deployment conditions at qualification level — meaning the loads applied exceed those expected during actual spaceflight. This conservative approach ensures the parachute system has a safety margin beyond nominal flight parameters. The test validated the deployment, inflation, and structural integrity of the high-strength ribbon-type drogue parachutes under extreme dynamic conditions.

Drogue parachutes play a critical role in the deceleration sequence of a crew module during re-entry. They are deployed at high altitude and high speed to slow the capsule before the main parachutes open. The failure of drogue parachutes could compromise crew safety, making their qualification a mission-critical milestone.

The test involved a three-way collaboration: TBRL (which managed the RTRS facility and test infrastructure), Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC, ISRO) which designed the parachute system, and the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), a DRDO lab specializing in parachute systems.

Gaganyaan G1 is India's first uncrewed orbital mission under the Gaganyaan program, currently planned for March 2026. The successful qualification of the drogue parachute system is one of the final milestones required before the G1 launch. India's Gaganyaan program aims to send Indian astronauts (Vyomanauts) to low Earth orbit, making India the fourth nation after the USSR/Russia, USA, and China to achieve crewed spaceflight capability.

This milestone reinforces India's indigenous capability in advanced parachute technology and space recovery systems, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers for critical space safety equipment.