The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully landed its reusable launch vehicle (RLV), named ‘Pushpak,’ on the runway of the Aeronautical Test Range in Challakere, Karnataka. Lifted by an Indian Air Force helicopter Chinook the winged vehicle was released from an altitude of 4.5 km. ISRO stated that Pushpak autonomously approached the runway making cross-range corrections. This achievement marked a significant milestone for ISRO in RLV technology. The second experiment of the series RLV LEX-02 was conducted at 7:10 am on Friday.
ISRO had previously conducted successful missions in 2016 and April 2023. In its post on X, ISRO stated, “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 agency further mentioned ”With this second mission” ISRO has re-validated the indigenously developed technologies in the areas of navigation, control systems, landing gear, and deceleration systems essential for performing a high-speed autonomous landing of a space-returning vehicle.
ISRO chief S Somanath had emphasized the significance of Pushpak stating, “The Pushpak launch vehicle is India’s bold attempt to make access to space most affordable.” He elaborated that the RLV can perform tasks like refueling in orbit or retrieving satellites for refurbishment, thereby minimizing space debris.
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Union Minister Nitin Gadkari congratulated ISRO for its achievement, describing it as “yet another remarkable achievement.” ISRO’s statement highlighted that the winged body and all flight systems used in RLV-LEX-01 were reused in the RLV-LEX-02 mission after obtaining necessary clearances.
The mission involved collaboration from various agencies, including the Indian Air Force, Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), and Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC).
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Dr. S Unnikrishnan Nair, the director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), expressed that ISRO could master terminal phase maneuvering, landing, and energy management in a fully autonomous mode through repeated successes, which is critical for future orbital re-entry missions. Somnath had briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the RLV mission costs an estimated Rs 100 crore.
