On February 19, 2026, the Ministry of Defence announced that DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) successfully conducted a qualification level load test for the Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute. The test was performed at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of DRDO at Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh on February 18, 2026. The test, conducted with Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, ISRO, and Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), DRDO, involved a dynamic test simulating qualification level loads, demonstrating the parachute's design safety margin. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D & Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat congratulated the teams involved. Release ID: 2230224.
Key Entities Referenced
Gaganyaan: India's human spaceflight programme
DRDO: Defence Research and Development Organisation, responsible for conducting the qualification test
TBRL: Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, where the RTRS facility is located
Chandigarh: Location of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL)
Atmanirbhar Bharat: A vision to make India self-reliant
Ministry of Defence
DRDO conducts successful qualification test for
Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute
Posted On: 19 FEB 2026 3:45PM by PIB Delhi
India’s human spaceflight programme has achieved a key milestone with the successful qualification level
load test of Drogue Parachute for Gaganyaan programme at Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory
(TBRL), Chandigarh. RTRS is a specialized dynamic test facility being used extensively for high speed
aerodynamic and ballistic evaluations.
The test was conducted on February 18, 2026 with Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, ISRO, Aerial Delivery
Research and Development Establishment, DRDO alongside various TBRL’s dedicated teams. The RTRS
dynamic test, simulating qualification level loads which are higher than the maximum flight loads, shows
the additional design safety margin of parachute.
The test proves India’s expertise in designing and manufacturing of high strength ribbon parachutes. The
achievement once again highlights TBRL’s immense contributions by providing advanced test facilities,
instrumentation and technical expertise for space and defence programmes.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has complimented DRDO, ISRO and Industry on the successful
qualification test for Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute. The test is another big step in furthering the vision of
Atmanirbhar Bharat, he said.
Secretary, Department of Defence R&D & Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat has also congratulated the
teams associated with the successful qualification level load test.****
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