ISRO has successfully completed a crucial series of qualification tests for drogue parachutes designed for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight project, accelerating progress towards India’s first crewed orbital launch. The tests took place on December 18 and 19, 2025, at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory’s Rail Track Rocket Sled facility in Chandigarh, under challenging simulated flight conditions. 

The drogue parachutes are a vital part of the Crew Module’s deceleration system, which consists of 10 parachutes divided into four categories meant to ensure a controlled descent.

The descent sequence begins with apex cover separation parachutes, which remove the protective housing of the parachute bay. This is followed by the deployment of drogue parachutes, which stabilise the module but considerably restrict its speed. Following the release of the drogues, pilot parachutes are deployed to extract three main parachutes, further slowing the Crew Module and enabling a safe touchdown.

The recent test series focused on the drogue parachutes’ reliability, strength, and performance consistency under extreme operating situations. Both tests met all of the intended objectives, demonstrating the system’s robustness. The milestone was reached with coordinated support from ISRO centres and DRDO laboratories, indicating a significant step towards qualifying Gaganyaan systems.