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India’s Advancement in Reusable Space Technology
India has made significant progress in the development of reusable space technology with the successful completion of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) second RLV Landing Experiment (RLV-LEX-02) on March 22. This milestone marks a crucial step towards achieving more affordable access to space.
The prototype space plane, named Pushpak, measuring 21 feet in length (6.5 meters), was released from an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter at an altitude of 2.8 miles (4.5 kilometers). It autonomously landed on a runway located 2.49 miles away (4 km), utilizing a brake parachute, landing gear brakes, and a nose wheel steering system to come to a complete stop.
The test took place at the Aeronautical Test Range in Karnataka, building upon a previous test conducted in 2023 at the same location. The recent experiment required Pushpak to execute more complex maneuvers, including cross-range and downrange corrections, culminating in a fully autonomous touchdown on the runway.
This successful mission validated various indigenous technologies crucial for the high-speed autonomous landing of a space-returning vehicle. Furthermore, it demonstrated the reusability of the winged body and all flight systems utilized in the initial test, showcasing their durability for future missions.
ISRO’s Vision for the Future
Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), S Unnikrishnan Nair, highlighted in an ISRO statement that this repeat success signifies the organization’s proficiency in terminal phase maneuvering, landing, and energy management in a fully autonomous mode. This achievement marks a significant stride towards future orbital reentry missions.
Initiated in 2019, ISRO’s space plane project aims to enhance the vehicle to integrate it into a reusable two-stage orbital launch system by the end of the decade. This ambitious goal underscores India’s commitment to advancing space exploration capabilities.
It is noteworthy that several other countries are also actively engaged in space plane endeavors. The U.S. Space Force’s robotic X-37B is currently embarking on its seventh flight, undertaking its first high-orbit mission following a successful December launch atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. Meanwhile, China’s enigmatic space plane recently surpassed 100 days in low Earth orbit, highlighting the global interest and investment in reusable space technology.
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