New Delhi, March 4 (IANS) India will conduct a test flight of a reusable launch vehicle by the second quarter of this year to reduce the cost of satellite launches, union minister Jitendra Singh said on Wednesday.
Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, the minister of state for department of space said the rocket's 1.5-tonne technology demonstrator would be lofted to a height of 70 km using solid booster to attain five times the speed of sound.
"The reusable launch vehicle's technology demonstrator (RLV-TD) will descend by gliding and splashing down into the sea. The test flight will demonstrate the hypersonic aerodynamics characteristics, avionics system, thermal protection system, control system and mission management," Singh told the lawmakers.
The state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has taken steps to develop the next generation launch vehicle GSLV MkIII for placing four-tonne class communication satellites into geo-synchronous transfer orbit and bring down the cost of satellite launches.
"Developing reusable rockets is a challenge, as it involves many cutting-edge technologies. The magnitude of cost reduction depends on the development and realisation of fully reusable launch vehicle and its degree of reusability," Singh added.
The space agency had conducted the maiden test flight of GSLV MkIII on December 18, 2014 with a crew module from its spaceport at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, about 90 km northeast of Chennai.
Five minutes after the launch, the heavy rocket ejected the 3.7-tonne crew module at a height of 126 km for its re-entry into the earth's atmosphere and descent in the Bay of Bengal near Andaman and Nicobar islands.
South African batsman Riley Russo has scored the first century of the T20 World Cup. He achieved
This new actor enters the Battle of Galwan, will he become an Indian Army officer like Salman Khan?
Earlier this month, superstar Salman Khan announced his upcoming much-talked-about film, Battle o
Milk Price Hike: Milk of Amul and Mother Dairy becomes expensive, new rates apply from tomorrow
The Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation has increased the prices of Amul milk by Rs 2
Now more and more hospitals will be able to provide cashless treatment to patients. The Insurance
Sandeshkhali Violence: Amidst the ongoing politics regarding the Sandeshkhali incident in West Be
'Not a shock but a mixed effect', India's reaction to Trump's 26 percent tariff
The Commerce Ministry is analyzing the impact of the 26 percent reciprocal tariff or import duty
Food crisis: Wheat scorched due to scorching heat, this time lowest production in 20 years
Amid skyrocketing inflation, the scorching heat has given a big blow to the wheat production fron
The country's manufacturing sector is recovering rapidly based on Make in India amid the worsenin
On Wednesday, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) started the demolition of illegal construc
The ongoing third round of meetings between Union Ministers and farmer leaders in Chandigarh cont
