ISRO Successfully Conducts Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Test for Gaganyaan Mission

ISRO carried out the fifth Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Test (IMAT-05) for the Gaganyaan program on July 7, 2026, at the ADRDE drop zone in Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh. The test qualifies the main parachute system ahead of the uncrewed G1 mission. It was a joint effort involving ISRO, DRDO, the Indian Air Force, and the Indian Army.

What is the Gaganyaan mission IMAT-05 parachute test?

The objective of this test was to verify the structural integrity and design margins of the main parachute under maximum expected load conditions for the first uncrewed Gaganyaan G1 mission.

1. An IL-76 aircraft of the Indian Air Force dropped a simulated crew module assembly, fitted with a single main parachute and dummy mass, from an altitude of 2.5 km.
2. An extractor parachute first triggered a drogue to stabilize oscillations.
3.  Once conditions stabilized, the main parachute opened and brought the payload down to a safe terminal speed. 
4. Engineers designed the test to check whether the parachute holds up structurally under the toughest load scenarios the crew module could face during descent.

How does the Gaganyaan mission IMAT-05 parachute test work?

1. The Gaganyaan crew module relies on ten parachutes across four types for a safe splashdown. Two Apex Cover Separation parachutes kick things off, clearing away the compartment's protective cover. 
2. Two drogue parachutes then stabilize and slow the module before three pilot parachutes pull out three main parachutes for final deceleration.
3.  This sequence has to work perfectly every time astronauts fly aboard, so ISRO is testing it repeatedly before committing to a crewed mission.

Who Was Involved in the IMAT-05 Test?

Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) led the test infrastructure, while ISRO, DRDO, the Indian Air Force, and the Indian Army coordinated execution. The Air Force supplied the IL-76 aircraft for the drop, and DRDO's parachute design expertise fed directly into the test parameters.