Inflatable Aerodynamics Decelerator (IAD) are a big Win for ISRO!!

 IADs (Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerators) are a crucial piece of technology used in space travel to assist spacecraft in entering a planet's or moon's atmosphere safely. When a spacecraft re-enters the atmosphere, it is moving quickly, producing a lot of heat, and subjecting the craft to a lot of stress. The spacecraft's speed is decreased and heat is dissipated with the aid of the inflatable aerodynamic decelerator, enabling a secure and controlled landing.

The inflatable heat shield, one of the most popular IAD designs, shields the spacecraft from the immense heat produced during atmospheric impact. A thin, lightweight material that is folded and stored on the spaceship during launch makes up the heat shield. The heat shield is inflated with compressed gas or pyrotechnics before to atmospheric arrival. After then, the expanded shield serves as a shield between the spacecraft and the atmosphere, collecting heat and lowering the spacecraft's speed.

Other IADs used to slow down and soften the impact of a spacecraft during landing include inflatable parachutes and airbags. These gadgets are frequently employed in conjunction with the heat shield to enable a controlled and safe landing.

IADs have been utilized successfully in a number of missions and are a crucial piece of equipment for space exploration. For instance, the 1997 Mars Pathfinder mission made a safe landing on Mars' surface by using an inflatable airbag. Similar to this, the 2004 landing on Mars by the Martian Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity was cushioned by inflatable airbags.

IAD have been a huge accomplishment for ISRO, allowing them to carry out challenging space missions with success. The use of an inflatable heat shield enabled ISRO's Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), which successfully launched a spacecraft into Mars' orbit in 2014. The spacecraft was able to withstand the extreme temperatures and pressures during atmospheric entry thanks to the heat shield, which was created in partnership with the Indian industry. Future missions to investigate the planets and moons of our solar system will now be easier to launch thanks to the successful usage of IADs in the MOM project. The usage of IADs has assisted ISRO in achieving its goals of enhancing India's space exploration capabilities and advancing science and technology.

                      The success of IAD test mission for Indian Space Research Organisation (Sept 3 2022)

Inflatable aerodynamic decelerators (IADs) have proven effective for ISRO's recent Chandrayaan-2 and Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) missions. Both missions relied heavily on the employment of IADs to enable the spacecraft to enter the atmospheres of Mars and the moon safely. ISRO's inflatable heat shield successfully shielded the spacecraft during the MOM mission from the scalding heat produced during atmospheric entry. Similar to this, ISRO utilised an IAD to slow down the lander during the Chandrayaan-2 mission as it descended to the moon's surface, ensuring a secure landing. These accomplishments reflect ISRO's technological prowess and competence in creating ground-breaking solutions for problems in space exploration. By utilizing IADs, ISRO has been able to advance its objectives of increasing India's space exploration capabilities and contributing to the advancement of science and technology on a global scale.

The use of Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerators (IADs) in upcoming missions has been made possible by the IADs' success in ISRO's earlier flights. The Gaganyaan mission, which intends to launch Indian astronauts into space, serves as one illustration. IADs will be essential to the success of this mission because they will allow the spacecraft to safely land by assisting with the spacecraft's return journey slowdown. ISRO also intends to launch expeditions to Mars and Venus to study their moons and other planets. IADs will be crucial to the success of these missions, enabling controlled ascent into the atmosphere and safe ascent out of it. In order to improve India's space exploration capabilities and promote science, future ISRO missions must use IADs as a critical component of their missions.