The Indian Space Research Organisation has completed the first ground test of a new solid rocket motor that will power the Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle for Experiments (SOLVE), a dedicated test platform being developed to support India's ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.

The test was conducted on July 3 at the Static Test Facility of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. According to ISRO, the solid motor performed as expected, successfully validating its design and operational parameters for future flight tests.

SOLVE is being designed to conduct integrated parachute trials for the Gaganyaan crew module, one of the most critical safety components of India's first human spaceflight programme. During the planned missions, the vehicle will carry the crew module to an altitude ranging between 10 kilometres and 17 kilometres before releasing it in flight. A carefully sequenced system of 10 parachutes will then deploy to slow the module's descent and ensure a safe splashdown in the sea.

The upcoming tests are intended to verify the performance of the crew module's deceleration and recovery systems under different flight conditions, helping engineers assess its readiness for future astronaut missions.

ISRO said the SOLVE vehicle incorporates a modified version of the strap-on motor used in the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). However, several changes have been introduced to replicate the requirements of a crewed mission. These include a slow burn-rate propellant, a straight nozzle design, and a secondary injection thrust vector control system, which enables precise steering and better simulation of actual mission conditions.

The space agency believes the development of SOLVE will provide greater flexibility in conducting repeated and cost-effective Gaganyaan-related experiments. By creating a dedicated platform for parachute and recovery trials, ISRO can test multiple mission scenarios before sending astronauts into space.

The successful motor test marks another important milestone for the Gaganyaan programme, under which India aims to send astronauts into low-Earth orbit aboard an indigenous spacecraft and bring them back safely. As preparations intensify, validating critical systems such as parachutes, recovery mechanisms and crew safety technologies remains central to ensuring the mission's success.