- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) completed the third reusable launch vehicle landing experiment (RLV LEX) at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
- Following the success of RLV LEX-01 and LEX-02, RLV LEX-03 re-demonstrated the autonomous landing capability under more challenging release conditions and severe wind conditions.
- The winged vehicle, Pushpak, was released from an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter at an altitude of 4.5 km.
Technical Specification
- Due to its low lift-to-drag ratio aerodynamic configuration, the landing velocity exceeded 320 km/h, compared to 260 km/h for a commercial aircraft and 280 km/h for a typical fighter aircraft.
- After touchdown, the vehicle’s velocity was reduced to nearly 100 km/h using a brake parachute, followed by landing gear brakes for deceleration.
- During the ground roll phase, Pushpak utilized its rudder and nose-wheel steering system to maintain a stable and precise ground roll along the runway.
- Pushpak autonomously executed cross-range correction manoeuvres, approached the runway, and performed a precise horizontal landing at the runway centre line.
- The mission simulated the approach and landing interface and high-speed landing conditions for a vehicle returning from space, reaffirming ISRO’s expertise in critical technologies required for RLV development.
- The advanced guidance algorithm for longitudinal and lateral plane error corrections essential for future Orbital Re-entry Missions was validated.
- The mission used sensors such as an inertial sensor, radar altimeter, flush air data system, and NavIC.
ISRO’s ongoing joint initiative
- ISRO and NASA are realizing a joint satellite mission called NISAR (NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) for earth science studies.
- As part of the Indo-French cooperation, ISRO and CNES have completed the feasibility study on realizing an earth observation satellite mission with a thermal infrared imager, named as TRISHNA.
- ISRO and JAXA scientists are conducting the feasibility study to realize a joint satellite mission to explore the moon’s polar region.
- Notably, the LEX-03 mission reused the winged body and flight systems from the LEX-02 mission without any modification, demonstrating ISRO’s robust design for reusability.
Dig Deeper: Read about the Gaganyan Mission and US cooperation in this.
