Isro takes the first step in developing reusable launch vehicle

Successfully tests RLV-technology demonstrator, a small aircraft-like winged structure; vehicle to achieve low-cost space access

Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Monday launched the first technology demonstrator of the indigenously made Reusable Launch Vehicle from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, about 100 km north of Chennai.

A booster rocket, with Reusable Launch Vehicle technology demonstrator (RLV-TD), was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre around 7 am.

At an altitude of 56 km, the launch vehicle separated from the rocket. The RLV-TD climbed another 65 km before starting to descend. It re-entered the atmosphere at hypersonic speed of Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound), splashing into the Bay of Bengal between Chennai and Andaman islands — about 450 km south of its launch pad.

It survived combustion with its thermal protection. The whole process — from take off to return — took 10 minutes. Its Navigation, guidance and control system accurately steered the vehicle during its descent. Isro acknowledged the support of the Indian coast guard and the National Institute of Ocean Technology for the mid-sea wind measurement and ship-borne telemetry in this mission.

The Reusable Launch Vehicle technology demonstrator was tracked during its flight from ground stations at Sriharikota and a ship-borne terminal.

In this flight, critical technology such as autonomous navigation, guidance and control, reusable thermal protection system and re-entry mission management have been successfully validated.

The test was termed as Hypersonic Experiment 1 (HEX-1). The first test launch HEX1 is a preliminary step. Isro has to go a long way before it can be called a re-usable launch system. A reusable launch vehicle is the unanimous solution to achieve low-cost, reliable and on-demand space access, said the space organisation.

According to scientists, the indigenously made Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) is as a small step in achieving the objective of reducing the cost of space transportation and it may take 10-15 years for India to put in place such an operational rocket. With the successful test of the technology India now joined an elite club of space-faring nations like the US, Russia and France.