The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has once again demonstrated its prowess in space technology with the successful completion of the third and final landing experiment of the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) named ‘Pushpak’. This achievement marks a significant milestone in ISRO’s journey towards developing reusable space launch systems.
The landing experiment, officially termed RLV LEX-03, took place at 07:30 IST at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Chitradurga, Karnataka. ‘Pushpak’ executed a precise horizontal landing, showcasing advanced autonomous capabilities under challenging conditions, thereby achieving a hat-trick of successful landings in the RLV Landing Experiment (LEX) series.
ISRO Chairman S Somanath commended the dedicated efforts of the ISRO team in sustaining a streak of success in such complex missions. J Muthupandian served as the Mission Director, while B Karthik played a crucial role as the Vehicle Director for the RLV LEX-03 mission.
The primary aim of the RLV LEX-03 mission was to replicate the approach, landing interface, and high-speed landing conditions for a vehicle reentering from space. This endeavor underscores ISRO’s commitment to acquiring critical technologies for the development of reusable launch vehicles.
Key technical aspects of the RLV LEX-03 mission include:
- The utilization of advanced guidance algorithms addressing longitudinal and lateral plane error corrections, essential for future Orbital Re-entry Missions.
- ‘Pushpak’ was released from an Indian Air Force Chinook Helicopter at an altitude of 4.5 km and autonomously executed cross-range correction maneuvers to land precisely at the runway centerline.
- The vehicle’s aerodynamic configuration led to a high landing velocity of over 320 kmph, demonstrating its capabilities under extreme conditions.
- After touchdown, the vehicle’s velocity was reduced using a brake parachute and landing gear brakes, showcasing precise control during the landing phase.
This successful mission was made possible through a collaborative effort involving various ISRO centers such as SAC, ISTRAC, SDSC-SHAR, as well as support from the Indian Air Force, Aeronautical Development Establishment, Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment, Regional Centre for Military Airworthiness, National Aerospace Laboratories, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Indian aerospace industrial partners, Indian Oil Corporation of India, and Airport Authority of India.
The completion of the RLV LEX-03 mission reaffirms ISRO’s commitment to innovation and excellence in space technology, paving the way for future advancements in reusable launch vehicle systems and space exploration endeavors.
Sources By Agencies
