India has advanced its ‘Pushpak’ RLV/rocket development. The RLV LEX-2 landing at Chitradurga’s Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) on Friday was successful. ISRO reported that the RLV LEX-2 may land autonomously from off-nominal starting conditions after helicopter deployment.
The Indian Air Force chopper hoisted and released the winged Pushpak space shuttle from 4.5 km. Pushpak traveled 4 km alone after release and completed cross-range corrections near the runway.
The brake parachute, landing gear brakes, and nose wheel steering system stopped Pushpak perfectly on the runway, according to ISRO. ISRO’s RLV’s second test landing was successful.
“The mission simulated RLV approach and high-speed landing from space. The Indian space agency said this second mission confirmed its indigenously designed navigation, control, landing gear, and deceleration systems for high-speed autonomous landing of a space returning vehicle.
What is a Reusable Launch Vehicle?
A reusable launch vehicle recovers and reuses the pricey launch vehicle for space voyages. Launch vehicles have heat shields, grid fins, and other flight control surfaces. The extra avionics and propellant make them heavier than expendables. The launch vehicle’s form is altered to aid recovery.
One of ISRO’s most difficult projects is the Reusable Launch Vehicle – Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD). To lower space access costs, it develops critical technologies for a fully reusable launch vehicle. An airplane-like RLV-TD blends launch vehicle and aircraft complications.
Hypersonic flight, automated landing, and powered cruise flight are tested on this winged vehicle. Future expansion will make it India’s reusable two-stage orbital launch vehicle’s first stage.
RLV-TD has a fuselage, nose cap, double delta wings, and twin vertical tails. Elevators and rudder are similarly situated. A low-burn solid booster (HS9) propelled this technology demonstrator to Mach 5. The selection of particular alloys, composites, and insulating materials for RLV-TD development and part production is complicated and requires expert labor. This vehicle was built using high-tech machinery and test equipment.
