ISRO’s successfully tested the latest version of their Reusable launch vehicle (RLV) technology through the RLV LEX-02 landing experiment. The Lander called Pushpak (RLV-TD) landed autonomously with precision on the runway after being released from an off-nominal position.
RLV-LEX-02/Pushpak landing autonomously (Pic Credit: ISRO)
The winged vehicle, called Pushpak, was lifted by an Indian Airforce Chinook helicopter and was released from 4.5 km altitude. After release at a distance of 4 km 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.
This mission successfully simulated the approach and high-speed landing conditions of RLV returning from space. With this second mission, ISRO has re-validated the indigenously developed technologies in the areas of navigation, control systems, landing gear and deceleration systems essential for performing a high-speed autonomous landing of a space-returning vehicle. The winged body and all flight systems used in RLV-LEX-01 were reused in the RLV-LEX-02 mission after due certification/clearances. Hence reuse capability of flight hardware and flight systems is also demonstrated in this mission. Based on the observations from RLV-LEX-01, the airframe structure and landing gear were strengthened to tolerate higher landing loads.
This was the second successful test of the system and the winged body and all flight systems used in RLV-LEX-01 were reused in the RLV-LEX-02 demonstrating the reuse capability of flight hardware and flight systems. This system is essential to the creation and use of RLV technology in future launches which will enable us to reduce the cost of the launches going forward. This will also allow us to increase the number of launches and the payload we can put in orbit in a given time period. Another key point to note is that all the technology used in the craft was developed indigenously in India.
Source: ISRO achieves yet another success in the RLV Landing Experiment
– Suramya