Latest Update From ISRO : “India’s daring attempt to make space travel as cheap as possible is demonstrated by the Pushpak launch vehicle,” stated S. Somanath, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
At a Karnataka defense airfield, a sleek, SUV-sized, winged rocket is prepared for its experimental launch. Today at seven in the morning, the rocket will take off from the Chalakere Runway. India’s daring attempt to enter the reusable rocket market is the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV), also known as “Pushpak” and often referred to as the “swadeshi space shuttle”. This is Pushpak’s third flight in an experiment to evaluate its robotic landing capability under more challenging conditions.
“India’s daring attempt to make space travel as cheap as possible is demonstrated by the Pushpak launch vehicle,” said S. Somanath, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The most costly component, the upper stage, which contains all the pricey electronics, is made reusable by returning it safely to Earth. This is India’s futuristic Reusable Launch Vehicle. Eventually, it might even be able to retrieve satellites from orbit for repair or refuel them while they were in orbit. Pushpak is a start in the right direction for India’s goal of reducing space debris, the speaker added.
The RLV made its maiden successful landing on a virtual runway in the Bay of Bengal in 2016, after taking off from Sriharikota for the first time in a decade. The RLV was never found again. It descended into the as intended.
On April 2, 2023, a second test at the defense establishment’s Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range was successfully completed. The Indian Air Force (IAF) Chinook Helicopter launched the winged rocket, known as the RLV-LEX, into the air. It then carried the rocket’s undercarriage and dropped it to land autonomously, which was successful.
About the name, Mr. Somanath explained that the “Pushpak Viman” is the name of a fabled spaceship from India that appears in the Ramayan and is thought to be the vehicle of God Kuber, the Lord of Wealth. Thus, it is fitting to refer to Pushpak as India’s most daring 21st-century rocket. “When it is released as a commercial launcher, it is anticipated that it will eventually become a money maker for India.”
“Pushpak is the way of the future,” declared Mr. Sunil P., the Program Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center’s Advanced Technology & Systems Group. “ISRO has an objective to fly a vehicle that is more cost-effective and provides very low-cost access to space,” he stated.
More than 15 years ago, India considered creating its own space shuttle prototype. A committed group of scientists and engineers started working on making RLV a reality ten years ago.
The 1.75-ton, 6.5-meter spacecraft, which resembles an airplane, will be lifted atop an IAF helicopter. Little thrusters will assist the vehicle in navigating to the precise location where it is intended to land during the descent phase, which is essentially a glider-like performance.
The initiative has received nearly ₹ 100 crore from the government, marking a significant milestone as the nation works toward building the Bhartiya Antariksha Station, its own space station, by 2035.