
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.
Actor Shahid Kapoor's film 'Jersey' was finally released today after being postponed several time
Make woman member or face contempt, SC tells make-up artists group
New Delhi, March 16 (IANS) The Supreme Court Monday directed the Cine Costume Make-up Artists a
Actor Pankaj Dheer, who played Karna in the serial "Mahabharata," has passed away. He was 68 year
On May 30, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath for the second time. Modi government 2.0
In West Bengal's Cooch Behar, 10 Kanwariyas died, while 16 were badly burnt due to electrocution
Corona Can't breath in India, the number of people who will be cured soon will be more than ill!
New Delhi
There is a war in the country against the corona epidemic. Every state has made
America has said in a report that China has threatened its officials. He has warned American offi
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be on a tour of Arunachal Pradesh on Monday. During this, he w
So far, 15 elections have been held for the post of President in the country, in which 14 people
The Russian army has started firing missiles in the capital Kyiv, launching an all-out attack in