UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — DRDO conducts successful qualification test for Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute

Q1. The Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC), the ISRO centre entrusted with implementing the Gaganyaan programme, was inaugurated in which year?

  • A. 2017
  • B. 2018
  • C. 2019
  • D. 2021

Q2. In the ISRO–DRDO co-development of the Gaganyaan crew module's parachute-based Deceleration System, which DRDO establishment is responsible for the design and development of the parachutes?

  • A. Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh
  • B. Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra
  • C. Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad
  • D. High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune

Q3. With reference to the organisations associated with the Gaganyaan drogue parachute programme, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. TBRL, Chandigarh is the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory of DRDO.
  2. ADRDE, Agra is the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment of DRDO.
  3. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) is a laboratory of DRDO.
  4. The Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility used for the test is located at TBRL, Chandigarh.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 1 and 3

Q4. The parachute-based Deceleration System of the Gaganyaan crew module, whose drogue element was qualification-tested at TBRL, comprises parachutes of how many distinct types?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Six

Q5. The Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) dynamic test of the Gaganyaan drogue parachute conducted on 18 February 2026 simulated loads that were:

  • A. equal to the nominal descent loads
  • B. higher than the maximum expected flight loads
  • C. lower than the maximum expected flight loads
  • D. equal to the maximum expected flight loads

Q6. In the December 2025 drogue parachute deployment campaign at the RTRS facility, TBRL Chandigarh, how many RTRS drogue tests were successfully completed?

  • A. One
  • B. Two
  • C. Three
  • D. Five

Q7. In the ISRO–DRDO joint development of the Gaganyaan Deceleration System, which is the lead ISRO centre partnering DRDO's ADRDE on the parachute system?

  • A. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)
  • B. U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC)
  • C. Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR)
  • D. Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC)