The Indian Space Research Organisation Likely To Test Ground Landing Of Reusable Launch Vehicle

The Indian Space Research Organisation is likely going to test the landing capabilities of reusable launch vehicles (RLV) sometime in November or December 2020, reported IANS.

According to the report,?ISRO is aiming to build RLV similar to USA's space shuttle, to put satellites in orbit and come back to land for the next mission. This is likely to bring down the satellite launch costs.?

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ISRO

There are two Indian rockets in service, called Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). There is also an upcoming Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). All these are expendable ones.

"We are planning to test the Reusable Launch Vehicle's landing in Chitradurga District in Karnataka. We want to do the test in November/December this year," S. Somanath, Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) said.

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ISRO

According to the plans, the RLV will be lifted up by a helicopter and it will be released?from the height of four kilometres?

Once it is released by the helicopter, the RLV will glide and navigate towards the runway, and land on its own in an airfield in Chitradurga District by deploying its parachute, Somanath added.?

According to ISRO, RLV Interface System (RIS) - for interfacing with helicopter - and Qualification Model of landing gear have been released.?

The RLV will ascend to orbit, stay there, re-enter and land on a runway like an aircraft. The technology has the challenges of meeting the complexities of both - a rocket and an aircraft.

According to Somanath, about 30-40 ISRO officials have to be taken to Chitradurga and will have to stay there for about two weeks.

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ISRO

In 2016, ISRO successfully tested RLV's descent from an altitude of 65 km and its atmospheric re-entry at around Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound).