Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstration (RLV-TD):
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully carried out the landing experiment of the Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstration (RLV-TD) programme at the Aeronautical Test Range in Challakere, Karnataka.
- An Indian Air Forces (IAF) Chinook helicopter was used to drop the RLV-TD from a 4.5 km altitude and ISRO executed the landing experiment of the RLV-TD as planned.
- The release of this vehicle was autonomous as it performed approach and landing manoeuvres using Integrated Navigation, Guidance, and control system and completed an autonomous landing on the airstrip
- It is the first in the world; a winged body has been carried to an altitude of 4.5 km.
- It is the second in the series of experimental flights of the programme.
- Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstration programme is planned as a series of technology demonstration missions that have been considered as a first step towards realising a Two Stage To Orbit (TSTO) fully reusable vehicle.
- A Winged RLV-TD has been configured to act as a flying test bed to evaluate various technologies namely, hypersonic flight, autonomous landing, and powered cruise flight.
- These technologies will be developed in phases through a series of experimental flights.
- RLV-TD is similar to that of an aircraft and combines the complexity of both launch vehicles and aircraft.
- It consists of a fuselage (body), a nose cap, double delta wings, and twin vertical tails.
- It also features symmetrically placed active control surfaces called Elevons and Rudder.
