Science & Technology★ Must Know

ISRO Conducts First Ground Test of SOLVE Motor for Gaganyaan Missions

By TestNeeti Editorial TeamPublished Sunday, 5 July 2026 2 min readSource: The HinduArticle 1 of 17

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully carried out the first ground test of the Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle for Experiments (SOLVE) solid motor at the Static Test Facility, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on July 3. The SOLVE solid motor is a key component for conducting Gaganyaan Test Missions. ISRO is developing SOLVE as a test platform to carry out Integrated Parachute Tests to validate the deceleration system of Gaganyaan's Crew Module. During test missions, the Crew Module will be carried to an altitude of 10–17 km and separated, after which a series of 10 parachutes will be deployed before splashdown in the sea. The solid stage of SOLVE is derived from the PSLV Strap-on Motor with modifications. ISRO said the motor's performance parameters were as expected.

Key Facts & Details

8 points

1
ISRO conducted the first ground test of the SOLVE solid motor at the Static Test Facility, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on July 3.
2
SOLVE (Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle for Experiments) is a test platform for Gaganyaan Test Missions.
3
SOLVE will support Integrated Parachute Tests to validate the Crew Module's deceleration system.
4
During tests, the Crew Module will be carried to 10–17 km altitude and slowed by 10 parachutes before sea splashdown.
5
The solid stage of SOLVE is derived from the PSLV Strap-on Motor, and ISRO said the test performance parameters were as expected.

Deep Dive

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The Gaganyaan mission aims to launch a crew of three to a 400 km orbit for a three-day mission and return them safely to Indian sea waters.
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The first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, scheduled for the first quarter of 2026, has been delayed.
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Recent Gaganyaan tests include the second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) and the behavioural study Mission MITRA conducted in Leh with the four selected astronauts.

Exam Focus

Examiners may ask the full form of SOLVE, the test facility/location, or the Gaganyaan crew size and orbit altitude.

Exam Relevance & Angle

Gaganyaan is India's flagship human-spaceflight programme and a high-yield exam topic. The precise hooks are SOLVE and its full form, the Sriharikota test on July 3, the 10–17 km test altitude and the 10-parachute deceleration system validating the Crew Module.

Target Exams

SBI POIBPS POIBPS RRB OfficerRBI Grade BNABARD Grade ASSC CGLSSC CHSLRRB NTPCLIC AAONIACL AOUPSC CSEState PCS

Background & Context

Gaganyaan is India's first human spaceflight programme, led by ISRO, aiming to demonstrate the capability to send astronauts to Low Earth Orbit and return them safely. Human-rating a spacecraft requires validating critical systems such as crew escape, life support and parachute-based deceleration through repeated ground and flight tests. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is ISRO's workhorse rocket, and its proven strap-on solid motors provide a reliable base for derived test vehicles like SOLVE. The Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota is ISRO's primary launch and static-test site.