Wed Oct 15 03:00:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summarized version of the text, rewritten as a news article:

**Headline: ISRO Gears Up for Gaganyaan Unmanned Flight Tests, Prioritizes Astronaut Safety with Advanced Escape System**

**Sriharikota, October 15, 2025:** The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing to commence unmanned flight tests for its ambitious Gaganyaan mission in 2023, marking a critical step towards India’s first human spaceflight. A key focus of the mission is ensuring the safety of the astronauts, with a sophisticated Crew Escape System (CES) designed to rapidly extract the crew module from the launch vehicle in the event of a contingency.

The Gaganyaan mission aims to transport Indian astronauts to a 400 km low-earth orbit and safely return them using the human-rated LVM3 (HLVM3) rocket. The CES, a “puller-type” system similar to those used in the Saturn V, Soyuz, and Long March rockets, is positioned at the forward end of the launch vehicle. It utilizes high burn-rate solid motors to quickly pull the crew module away from the launch vehicle, even under extreme acceleration (up to 10G).

The atmospheric phase of flight is one of the most critical stages of the ascent, during which the rocket accelerates to hypersonic speeds — more than five times the speed of sound — and will be experiencing very high structural loads.

The CES will then release the module, deploying a multistage parachute system to ensure a safe splashdown in the sea. This integrated system, coupled with the Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) system which monitors vital parameters and detects anomalies in real-time, is designed to maximize crew survival probability.

ISRO conducted a successful test of the CES in October 2023 using a cost-effective test vehicle, simulating critical ascent trajectory conditions. Additional tests are planned.

“The CES is a cornerstone of the Gaganyaan programme,” stated Unnikrishnan Nair S., former director, VSSC; Founding Director, HSFC. He added, “It reflects ISRO’s commitment to astronaut safety by integrating advanced engineering, rigorous testing, and reliable systems like the IVHM. This ensures India’s first human spaceflight mission will prioritize the safe return of its crew, even in the face of unforeseen challenges.”

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