ISRO Successfully Carries Out 'Pushpak' Reusable Launch Vehicle Experiment In Karnataka's Chitradurga

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Friday successfully carried out the landing mission of its Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) named 'Pushpak' from the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Challakere near Karnataka's Chitradurga.

"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," ISRO wrote in a post on X.

The experiment RLV-LEX-02, second of the series, was conducted Friday (22 March) morning at 7.10 am.

"After the RLV-LEX-01 mission was accomplished last year, RLV-LEX-02 demonstrated the autonomous landing capability of RLV from off-nominal initial conditions at release from Helicopter. The RLV was made to undertake more difficult manoeuvres with dispersions, correct both cross-range and downrange and land on the runway in a fully autonomous mode," the ISRO said.

"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 said.

It landed precisely on the runway and came to a halt using its brake parachute, landing gear brakes and nose wheel steering system, the space agency added.

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," it said.

Based on the observations from RLV-LEX-01, the airframe structure and landing gear were strengthened to tolerate higher landing loads.

The mission was accomplished by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) along with the Liquid Propulsion System Centre (LPSC) and the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU).

Various agencies including IAF, ADE, ADRDE and CEMILAC were also part of the mission.

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