Indian Navy and ISRO Conducted Welldeck Recovery Trials for Gaganyaan in Visakhapatnam

The Indian Navy and ISRO recently conducted well deck recovery trials for the Gaganyaan mission on December 6, 2024. These trials took place at the Eastern Naval Command using a well deck ship off the coast of Visakhapatnam.

The well deck recovery process involves flooding the deck of the ship with water, allowing the Crew Module to be towed inside where the crew can exit comfortably. This method ensures quick and safe recovery of astronauts after splashdown.

The trials validated the sequence of operations, including attaching the recovery buoy, towing, entering the well deck, positioning the Crew Module, and draining the well deck.

These steps are crucial for finalizing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for both nominal and off-nominal recovery conditions.

The Gaganyaan mission aims to demonstrate India's human spaceflight capability by sending a crew of three members to orbit for a three-day mission and safely returning them to Earth.