Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a significant milestone on June 23 with the successful completion of the third Reusable Launch Vehicle Landing Experiment (RLV LEX-03) at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Chitradurga, Karnataka. This marks the culmination of a series of tests aimed at demonstrating the autonomous landing capabilities of ISRO’s reusable vehicle technology.
The experiment, conducted at 7:10 a.m., showcased ISRO’s prowess in autonomous landing under challenging conditions. Codenamed “Pushpak,” the winged vehicle was released from an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter at an altitude of 4.5 km. Pushpak autonomously executed cross-range correction maneuvers and successfully approached the runway, achieving a precise horizontal landing at the runway centerline.
This mission simulated high-speed landing conditions akin to those experienced by vehicles returning from space, validating critical technologies essential for the development of future Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLV). ISRO emphasized that the mission reaffirms its expertise in advanced guidance algorithms and multisensor fusion, utilizing technologies such as inertial sensors, radar altimeters, flush air data systems, pseudolite systems, and NavIC.
Notably, RLV LEX-03 utilized the same winged body and flight systems from its predecessor (LEX-02) without modification, demonstrating ISRO’s capability in designing reusable flight systems for multiple missions.
With this successful test, ISRO moves closer to realizing its vision of cost-effective and sustainable space access through reusable launch vehicle technology, positioning India at the forefront of global space exploration capabilities.
The completion of RLV LEX-03 underscores India’s growing prowess in aerospace technology and its commitment to advancing space exploration through innovation and systematic testing.
