In a major milestone, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted the third and final landing experiment of its Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) named 'Pushpak'. The RLV LEX-03 mission, carried out at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka, has demonstrated the autonomous landing capabilities of the Pushpak vehicle under challenging conditions. [1][2][3][4]
The Pushpak vehicle, a winged body weighing around 1.75 tons, was released from an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter at an altitude of 4.5 km, about 4.5 km away from the runway. Despite the increased cross-range of 500 m compared to the previous LEX-02 mission, Pushpak autonomously executed precise course correction maneuvers and approached the runway, landing horizontally at the runway centerline. [3][4]
Due to its low lift-to-drag ratio aerodynamic configuration, Pushpak approached the runway at a speed exceeding 320 km/h, much higher than the typical 260 km/h for commercial aircraft and 280 km/h for fighter jets. After touchdown, the vehicle's velocity was reduced to around 100 km/h using a brake parachute, followed by the use of landing gear brakes for further deceleration and a stable ground roll along the runway. [3][4]
ISRO Chairman S. Somanath congratulated the team for their dedication in maintaining the success streak in this complex mission. Dr. S. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, emphasized that this consistent success boosts ISRO's confidence in the critical technologies essential for future orbital re-entry missions. [3][4]
The RLV LEX-03 mission was a collaborative effort involving various ISRO centers, the Indian Air Force, and other organizations. It has validated the advanced guidance algorithm for longitudinal and lateral plane error corrections, a crucial step towards future orbital re-entry missions. The reuse of the winged body and flight systems from the previous LEX-02 mission also showcases ISRO's capability to design and reuse flight systems for multiple missions. [1][2][3][4]
This successful completion of the RLV landing experiment series marks a significant milestone in India's journey towards developing its indigenous 'space shuttle' capability, paving the way for future orbital tests and advancements in space exploration. [5]
Citations:
[1] https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/isro-successfully-conducts-3rd-and-final-landing-experiment-of-reusable-launch-vehicle-pushpak-101719106887720.html
[2] https://www.newsonair.gov.in/isro-successfully-conducts-third-and-final-pushpak-reusable-launch-vehicle-landing-experiment/
[3] https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/isro-reusable-launch-vehicle-pushpak-rlv-lex-03-mission-success-landing-2556812-2024-06-23
[4] https://indianexpress.com/article/india/isro-completes-reusable-launch-vehicle-technology-demonstrations-lex-trio-bengaluru-9409482/
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