In Episode 3 of The Scope’s Gaganyaan — India’s Leap, we explore the Crew Escape System the last line of defence for India’s astronauts during launch. From how its powerful motors can pull the crew module away from a failing rocket, to the forces astronauts can experience, discover why Gaganyaan uses a ‘puller’ design, how machines can detect an emergency in milliseconds, and how ISRO has already tested the system in flight. We also look at the remarkable history of launch escape systems including the 1983 Soyuz emergency that saved two cosmonauts and what ISRO’s upcoming tests mean for the safety of India’s first human spaceflight mission.
