RLV-LEX-02 Experiment: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Friday (22 March) achieved a major breakthrough in the field of reusable launch vehicle technology. Autonomous landing of India’s modern Pushpak aircraft was successfully tested with the help of Chinook helicopter of the Air Force at 7.10 am in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
According to ISRO, Pushpak aircraft will make India’s access to space economical in future. The winged pushpaka aircraft is a type of rocket, which is part of ISRO’s RLV-LEX 2 mission.
ISRO said in a statement that it has achieved a major milestone in the field of reusable launch vehicle technology through the RLV LEIX-02 landing experiment.
This is how Pushpak Viman landed
Before starting the autonomous landing sequence, the RLV (Pushpak Viman) was taken to a predetermined altitude of 4.5 kilometers by an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter. After release at a distance of 4 km from the runway, Pushpak autonomously approached the runway with cross-range corrections.
ISRO said Pushpak landed safely on the runway and stopped using its brake parachute, landing gear brake and nose wheel steering system. ISRO has also posted a video of this entire test on its official X handle.
‘Reinforced indigenously developed technology’
ISRO said, “With this second mission, ISRO has re-introduced indigenously developed technologies in the areas of navigation, control systems, landing gear and deceleration system required for high speed autonomous landing of the space-return vehicle.” Has been confirmed.
RLV-LEX-02: A video collage.
Details:https://t.co/XftP6gaM36
Mighty @IAF_MCC and various ISRO Centres/Units like LPSC, IISU, SAC, SDSC-SHAR, ISTRAC, URSC, etc. fueled the success. pic.twitter.com/IUanvewcaw
— ISRO (@isro) March 22, 2024
Indian Air Force said- will continue to contribute and cooperate
The Indian Air Force has also posted a video on its Another photo shared shows the RLV with a parachute after landing safely on the runway.
“The IAF heartily congratulates ISRO for achieving this milestone,” the Indian Air Force wrote in its post on Twitter. The Air Force will contribute and cooperate in many such works in future also.
Utilizing the #IAF Chinook helicopter for its airlift and subsequent positioning at a predefined altitude and location, @isro successfully demonstrated the autonomous landing capability of the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) ‘PUSHPAK’ as part of its RLV-LEX 2 mission.
Airlifted to… pic.twitter.com/FCTGHk51wO
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) March 22, 2024
The mission has been accomplished by Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) along with Liquid Propulsion System Center (LPSC) and ISRO Inertial System Unit (IISU). ISRO chief S Somnath has congratulated the team for implementing this complex mission without any mistakes.