Chitradurga, Karnataka – The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is embarking on a groundbreaking mission that could revolutionize the economics of space exploration.
In the coming weeks, the agency will conduct a critical landing experiment (LEX) with a scaled-down Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Challakere, Chitradurga, Karnataka.
This landmark experiment serves as a critical test in India's journey towards sustainable space missions. "Reusable Launch Vehicles offer a profound shift in how we approach space," stated an industry analyst. "By recovering and reusing launch vehicles, we can dramatically reduce the costs associated with space exploration."
During the LEX, a scaled-down RLV will be airdropped from an altitude of 4.5 kilometers. The primary goal of the mission is to flawlessly execute an autonomous landing on a designated runway. Success in this endeavor would be a significant stride for ISRO's reusable launch technology program.
The upcoming LEX underscores the ambition and determination within India's space exploration vision. A proven autonomous landing capability for RLVs will yield invaluable technical understanding and expedite the development of fully operational reusable launch vehicles.
These vehicles hold the key to future missions – including crewed flights and even the potential establishment of sustained human outposts in space.
About Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLVs)
RLVs operate much like aircraft, with the capacity to return to Earth and land horizontally after delivering payloads into space. This reusability contrasts with traditional expendable launch vehicles, which are discarded after a single use.The potential cost savings offered by RLVs could greatly expand access to space-based research and commercial ventures.
