- ISRO successfully demonstrated autonomous landing for the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV).
- The vehicle, named Pushpak, executed a precise landing under challenging conditions.
- This success boosts ISRO’s capabilities for future orbital re-entry missions.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a significant milestone with the successful autonomous landing of its Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) named Pushpak. On June 23, ISRO announced the third consecutive success in the RLV Landing Experiment (RLV LEX), showcasing advanced autonomous capabilities under more challenging conditions.
Pushpak was released from an Indian Air Force Chinook Helicopter at an altitude of 4.5 km and autonomously executed precise cross-range correction maneuvers to land accurately at the runway’s centerline. This mission simulated high-speed landing conditions for a vehicle returning from space, reaffirming ISRO’s expertise in critical technologies needed for RLV development.
ISRO stated that the advanced guidance algorithms validated in this mission are crucial for future Orbital Re-entry Missions. With the objectives of RLV LEX accomplished, ISRO now moves forward to the Orbital Reusable Vehicle (RLV-ORV) phase, marking a significant step towards more efficient and cost-effective space missions.
