ISRO Declares Success in the Final Test of the ‘Pushpak’ Reusable Launch Vehicle Landing Experiment

Chitradurga: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has declared the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Landing EXperiment (LEX) successful in its final test. This LEX (03) technology demonstration of “the autonomous landing capability” is the third in a row to be successful. It took place at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Chitradurga, Karnataka.

The winged vehicle, known as “Pushpak,” was dropped from an Indian Air Force Chinook Helicopter at a height of 4.5 km as part of the experiment. “Pushpak autonomously executed cross-range correction manoeuvres, approached the runway, and performed a precise horizontal landing at the runway centerline,” the space agency said, referring to the release point that was 4.5 kilometres from the runway.

According to ISRO, the mission has confirmed its proficiency in obtaining the most essential technologies needed for the construction of an RLV by simulating the approach and landing interface and high-speed landing conditions for a spacecraft returning from space. It has validated the advanced guidance algorithm that is crucial for the future Orbital Re-entry Mission, as it caters to longitudinal and lateral plane error corrections.

Also Read More –

• ISRO partners with HAL to triple ISRO’s LVM3 launch capacity