Kochi: India’s foray into space gathered steam with the Indian Navy and ISRO releasing the Gaganyaan Recovery Training Plan at Water Survival Training Facility (WSTF) INS Garuda, Kochi on May 24, 2023.
The training document was jointly released by VAdm Atul Anand, Director General of Naval Operations, Dr Unnikrishnan Nair, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, (VSSC) and Dr Umamaheshwaran R, Director, Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) of ISRO.
The document outlines the training plan for recovery of the Crew Module of the mission. It defines overall requirements pertaining to training of various teams participating in recovery operations including Divers, MARCOs, Medical Specialists, Communicators, Technicians & Naval Aviators.
The Recovery training is planned in incremental phases starting from unmanned recovery to manned recovery training in harbour and open sea conditions. The recovery operations are being led by the Indian Navy in co-ordination with other Government agencies.
The Crew Module Recovery Model was also formally handed over to Indian Navy at its state of the art Water Survival Training Facility (WSTF) at INS Garuda, Kochi. The mass and shape simulated mockup will be used for familiarisation and training of Gaganyaan recovery teams.
The Indian Navy will also assist ISRO by undertaking a series of trials to fine tune the Standard Operating Procedures for training the crew and recovery teams of Gaganyaan.
