BENGALURU: India’s first reusable launch vehicle (RLV) ‘Pushpak’ was successfully launched at Chitradurga in Karnataka at 7 am on Friday. The ‘Pushpak’ launch test is India’s bold attempt to make space access more affordable and sustainable. ISRO Chairman S Somnath and other senior officials were present at the launch site.
Pushpak is ISRO’s Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV). The probe was launched by a Chinook helicopter at an altitude of 4.5 km. The probe, which fell down, reversed itself and landed. The third landing mission of RLV took place. Previous successful trials were held in 2016 and last April. ISRO officials informed that a low-cost reusable launching vehicle has been developed as a part of space missions.
The Pushpak RLV is designed as a fully reusable single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) vehicle, incorporating several key components including the upgraded X-33 Advanced Technology Demonstrator and X-34 Testbed Technology Demonstrator. Named after the Pushpak Vimana in the Ramayana, ISRO’s modern aircraft is a symbol of opulence and innovation.
The winged technology demonstrator RLV is set to act as a flying test bed for evaluating various technologies like hypersonic flight, autonomous landing and powered cruise flight. With an investment of over Rs 100 crore, this project will not only showcase India’s technological prowess, but also its future, including the ambitious goal of establishing the Indian Space Station by 2035. and sets the stage for efforts.
