Produced by: Tarun Mishra
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) accomplished the landing mission of its Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) named 'Pushpak' from the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Challakere near Karnataka's Chitradurga.
Source: ISRO
ISRO's Chairman S Somanath and senior officials witnessed the successful landing of Pushpak, which autonomously landed with precision on the runway after being released from an off-nominal position.
Pushpak was lifted by an Indian Airforce Chinook helicopter and released from a height of 4.5 km. It autonomously approached the runway, making cross-range corrections before landing precisely.
After release at a distance of 4 km from the runway, Pushpak utilized its brake parachute, landing gear brakes, and nose wheel steering system to come to a halt, ensuring a controlled landing.
Pushpak RLV is designed as a fully reusable single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) vehicle, incorporating advanced technology from the X-33, X-34, and DC-XA flight demonstrators.
This marks the third successful flight of Pushpak, demonstrating its robotic landing capabilities under increasingly complex conditions, bringing it closer to achieving orbital re-entry capabilities.
Named after the mythical 'Pushpak Viman' from the Ramayana, Pushpak symbolizes prosperity and innovation. It serves as a flying test bed to evaluate various technologies, including hypersonic flight and autonomous landing.
With an investment exceeding Rs 100 crore, Pushpak showcases India's technological prowess and sets the stage for future endeavours, including the establishment of the Bhartiya Antariksha Station by 2035. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed about the vehicle's development during his visit to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.