According to IANS, the Indian Space Research Organisation would most likely test the landing capabilities of reusable launch vehicles (RLV) in November or December 2020.
According to the report, ISRO plans to create an RLV comparable to the United States’ space shuttle that will be used to launch satellites into orbit and then return to Earth for the next mission. The cost of launching a satellite is likely to decrease as a result of this.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) are two Indian rockets currently in use (GSLV). A Small Satellite Launch Vehicle is also on the way (SSLV). All of these are disposable.
“We intend to test the landing of the Reusable Launch Vehicle in the Karnataka district of Chitradurga. This year’s test is scheduled for November/December “Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) Director S. Somanath stated.
The RLV will be lifted by a helicopter and released from a height of four kilometres, according to the designs.
The RLV will glide and navigate towards the runway after being released by the helicopter, and land on its own in an airstrip in Chitradurga District by deploying its parachute, according to Somanath.
The RLV Interface System (RIS) for interacting with helicopters and the Qualification Model of landing gear have been launched, according to ISRO.
Like an aeroplane, the RLV will ascend to orbit, stay there, re-enter, and land on a runway. The technology has difficulties in matching the requirements of both a rocket and an aeroplane.
According to Somanath, approximately 30-40 ISRO officials would be transported to Chitradurga and will be required to stay for two weeks.
ISRO successfully tested RLV’s descent from a height of 65 kilometres and atmospheric re-entry at roughly Mach 5 in 2016. (five times the speed of sound).
