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RAS question

ISRO successfully conducted the Second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) for Gaganyaan in April 2026. What was the weight of the simulated Crew Module used in this test?

Correct answer: (B) 5.7 tonnes.

The simulated Crew Module used in ISRO's IADT-02 test for Gaganyaan weighed about 5.7 tonnes.

  1. (A)

    4.5 tonnes

  2. (B)

    5.7 tonnes

  3. (C)

    6.2 tonnes

  4. (D)

    3.8 tonnes

Explanation

ISRO conducted the second Integrated Air Drop Test, IADT-02, for the Gaganyaan mission at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on 10 April 2026. The test used a simulated Crew Module weighing about 5.7 tonnes, the same mass as the Crew Module planned for the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, G1. An Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter lifted it to about 3 km and released it over a sea drop zone near the Sriharikota coast. During descent, ten parachutes of four types deployed in sequence to slow the module for safe touchdown. The Indian Navy then coordinated recovery, and ISRO stated that the test validated the Crew Module's parachute-based deceleration system.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (A) 4.5 tonnes is too low; ISRO's account identifies the simulated Crew Module as weighing about 5.7 tonnes.
  • (C) 6.2 tonnes is higher than the figure reported for IADT-02; the verified ISRO source gives about 5.7 tonnes.
  • (D) 3.8 tonnes does not match the tested Gaganyaan Crew Module mass; the IADT-02 module was about 5.7 tonnes.

Concept

This tests current ISRO mission milestones under Science and Technology, especially Gaganyaan's crew-safety validation. RAS often asks such facts because space missions combine institutional developments, technology validation and recent national achievements.

Source

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