India has taken a significant step toward developing a reusable launch vehicle (RLV) with the successful completion of its third and final Landing Experiment (LEX) on June 23, 2024.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) conducted this crucial test at a government-owned facility in the country’s southern state of Karnataka, demonstrating the capabilities of their homegrown autonomous landing technology.
The space plane, named Pushpak, executed a precise horizontal landing under challenging conditions, showcasing advanced autonomous capabilities. This achievement brings India closer to its goal of operating an end-to-end reusable launch vehicle within this decade, a technology that can be adapted to its fleet of launch vehicles for various missions in a more cost-effective manner.
The final test, led by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) in the south western state of Kerala, built upon observations from the previous two landing tests conducted in 2023 and March 2024.
ISRO strengthened Pushpak’s mechanical structures and landing gear to withstand higher landing speeds, and the final test challenged the vehicle with harsher wind conditions compared to previous experiments.
During the test, a Chinook helicopter piloted by the Indian Air Force carried the 21-foot-long space plane to an altitude of approximately 2.8 miles before releasing it mid-air. To further test the plane’s landing technology, it was intentionally released 1640 feet off-center from the runway. Pushpak then autonomously maneuvered itself to approach the runway and executed an accurate touchdown at the center.\
Credit: ISRO
VSSC Director Unnikrishnan Nair highlighted the precision of the landing, noting that the plane landed within 11 cm of the runway centerline after starting 500 meters away. The vehicle employed a parachute to reduce its speed from nearly 200 mph to about 62 mph before using its brakes to come to a complete stop. This approach simulated the landing conditions of a vehicle re-entering Earth’s atmosphere from outer space.
With the successful completion of the RLV LEX objectives, ISRO is now setting its sights on the next phase: developing an orbital reuse vehicle (ORV). This ambitious project aims to fly the prototype into space for an autonomous return, further advancing India’s space capabilities and potentially revolutionizing its launch vehicle fleet.
The success of this final test marks a significant milestone in India’s space program, demonstrating the country’s growing expertise in developing advanced space technologies.
As ISRO continues to push the boundaries of space exploration and reusable launch systems, the agency is positioning India as a major player in the global space industry, with the potential to offer more cost-effective and sustainable space launch solutions in the near future.
