NEW DELHI, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Thursday said it has successfully tested the Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) for Gaganyaan (sky craft), the country's first manned space mission.
According to India's space agency, the test was conducted on Wednesday at ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri, in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
"This test involved five liquid apogee motor engines with a thrust of 440 N (Newton) and 16 reaction control system thrusters with a thrust of 100 N (Newton)," the ISRO said in a statement.
It said the service module of Gaganyaan is a regulated bipropellant-based propulsion system that caters to the requirements of the orbital module, performing orbit injection, circularization, on-orbit control, de-boost maneuvering and SM-based abort (if any) during the ascent phase.
According to the ISRO, the Gaganyaan project plans to launch a crew of three members to an orbit of 400 km for a three days mission and bring them back safely by landing in Indian sea waters. ■