BENGALURU: Indian Space Researach Organisation (ISRO) will flight test in June a new generation of launch vehicles that can re-enter the atmosphere.
The vehicle, which had completed various tests, including the final accoustic test at the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) here is on its way to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in preparation for the launch, ISRO Chairman A S Kiran said, while delivering the annual Air Chief Marshal L M Khatre lecture, organised by HAL, Air Force Association and the Aeronautical Society of India.
It will be the first Winged vehicle to be tested by ISRO for its future manned space missions.
Mr Kiran said that the launch vehicle would be taken to a height of over 70 kms and released for its re-entry into the atmosphere. It has to withstand the atmospheric pressure and friction while focusing on the re-entry. The launch of the reusable vehicle was earlier scheduled for the end of 2015.
The Chairman said the prototype that will take to the air would be a one- sixth of the original size and might not require ISRO’s workhorse PSLV. The Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD), a winged Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) has been configured to act as a flying test bed to evaluate various technologies, namely, hypersonic flight, autonomous landing, powered cruise flight and hypersonic flight using air-breathing propulsion towards realising a Two Stage to Orbit (TSTO) fully Reusable Launch Vehicle.
Mr Kiran said ISRO was also working towards realisation of the second launch of LVM 3, which would be capable to launch four tonne class satellites into geosynchornous orbit using indigenously developed cryogenic engines.
LVM3 is touted at the next generation launch vehicle of ISRO after GSLV, which could launch satellites up to a mass of two tonnes. The first experimental flight of LVM3, the LVM3-X/CARE mission lifted off from Sriharikota on December 18, 2014 and successfully tested the atmospheric phase of flight. (Agencies)
Follow our WhatsApp channel