ISRO reaches new milestone, successfully lands Pushpak reusable launch vehicle

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday successfully conducted the Pushpak Reusable Landing Vehicle (RLV) LEX 02 experiment, at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka, on March 22.

This landing is the second in a series of experiments conducted by ISRO.

Building upon the success of the previous mission, RLV-LEX-02 showcased the autonomous landing capabilities of the RLV from challenging initial conditions post-release from a helicopter.

Pushpak was hoisted by an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter and released at an altitude of 4.5 km. The winged vehicle corrected both cross-range and downrange parameters before landing autonomously on the runway. The precision landing was facilitated by a combination of systems including a brake parachute, landing gear brakes, and nose wheel steering.

This mission simulated the high-speed landing scenarios of an RLV returning from space, validating crucial technologies in navigation, control systems, landing gear, and deceleration systems. The successful reuse of flight hardware and systems from RLV-LEX-01 underscored ISRO’s capability in developing indigenous technologies for space missions.

Lauding the flawless execution of the mission, ISRO Chairman S Somanath and VSSC Director S Unnikrishnan Nair highlighted the critical advancements made in terminal phase maneuvering, landing, and energy management in fully autonomous modes, paving the way for future orbital re-entry missions.