ISRO: The Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) known as “Pushpak” of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) successfully completed its landing mission on Friday from the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) at Challakere, close to Chitradurga, Karnataka. Senior authorities including Isro Chairman S Somanath were present at the launch site.
Successful Autonomous Landing
“Isro nails it again! Pushpak (RLV-TD), the winged vehicle, landed autonomously with precision on the runway after being released from an off-nominal position,” the space organisation wrote on X. India’s audacious endeavour to lower the cost and increase the sustainability of space access is the launch of Pushpak.
Aerial Deployment by Chinook Helicopter
“Pushpak was lifted by an Indian Airforce Chinook helicopter and was released from 4.5 km altitude. After release at a distance of 4 km from the runway, Pushpak autonomously approached the runway along with cross-range corrections. It landed precisely on the runway and came to a halt using its brake parachute, landing gear brakes and nose wheel steering system,” the Isro said.
Advanced Technology Integration
With the integration of multiple key components, including the X-33 advanced technology demonstrator, the X-34 testbed technology demonstrator, and the modified DC-XA flight demonstration, the Pushpak RLV is intended to be an all-rocket, completely reusable single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) vehicle.
Milestone Achievement
With this launch, Pushpak will have completed three flights after a battery of tests to refine its robotic landing skills in ever more challenging scenarios.
The vehicle, which has been in development for more than ten years, successfully tested an autonomous landing in April of last year after being dropped from an Indian Air Force Chinook chopper. The Pushpak RLV reached a significant milestone with this, moving one step closer to becoming capable of orbital re-entry.
Winged Technology Demonstrator
Isro’s contemporary aeroplane, which bears the name of the Ramayana’s legendary “Pushpak Viman,” stand for wealth and creativity. The RLV, a winged technology demonstrator, is set up to serve as a flying test bed for assessing different technologies, including powered cruise flight, autonomous landing, and hypersonic flight.
The initiative, which has cost more than Rs 100 crore, not only demonstrates India’s technological capability but also paves the way for larger projects like the audacious plan to build the Bhartiya Antariksha Station by 2035.
Prime Minister’s Briefing
Last month, Somanath gave Prime Minister Narendra Modi a briefing on the vehicle’s development during his visit to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. The National Review Committee gave Isro’s design for the RLV spacecraft its approval in January 2012. Following approval, the first prototype was constructed and given the name RLV-TD (Technology Demonstrator).
RLV made its first flight in 2016 thanks to sophisticated supercomputer simulations and the National Aerospace Laboratory and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developing heat-resistant materials to shield the spacecraft from high temperatures during atmospheric re-entry.