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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a significant milestone on Friday as it successfully conducted the landing mission of its Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV), Pushpak, from the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Challakere near Karnataka’s Chitradurga. ISRO chairman S. Somanath and other senior officials attended the launch.
“ISRO nails it again! Pushpak (RLV-TD), the winged vehicle, landed autonomously with precision on the runway after being released from an off-nominal position,” the space organization posted on X.
“The winged vehicle, called Pushpak, was lifted by an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter and released from 4.5 km altitude. After being released 4km from the runway, Pushpak autonomously approached the runway along with cross-range corrections. It landed precisely on the runway and came to a halt using its brake parachute, landing gear brakes, and nose wheel steering system,” ISRO said in a statement.
This experiment marked the third flight of the Pushpak, part of a series of tests aimed at refining its robotic landing capabilities under more complex conditions. While the operational deployment of Pushpak is still years away, this achievement underscores India’s ambitious efforts to make access to space more affordable, as highlighted by Mr. Somanath.
The Pushpak launch vehicle represents India’s pioneering endeavor to revolutionize space access, and its successful landing marks another step forward in this journey. This project, which has been in development for over a decade, saw a significant breakthrough in April last year when Pushpak demonstrated autonomous landing capabilities after being released from an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter. This accomplishment brought Pushpak closer to achieving its goal of orbital re-entry capabilities.
With an investment of about Rs 100 crore, the Pushpak project showcases India’s technological prowess and lays the groundwork for future missions, including the ambitious vision of establishing Bhartiya Antariksha Station by 2035.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Somanath briefed him on the progress of the Pushpak vehicle. The journey of the RLV spacecraft began in January 2012, when the National Review Committee approved its design. Subsequently, the prototype, RLV-TD (Technology Demonstrator), was developed.
Through advanced supercomputer simulations and the collaboration of institutions like the National Aerospace Laboratory and the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), significant strides have been made in developing heat-resistant materials to protect spacecraft during atmospheric re-entry. The maiden flight of RLV took place in 2016, marking an important milestone in India’s space exploration journey.
