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.
Sharmaji Namkeen Review: Life should be salty, not spicy, Rishi Kapoor taught the world as he went
The film 'Sharmaji Namkeen' has a different place in the films and web series released or release
On September 5, South cinema veteran Thalapathy Vijay's film GOAT was released in theaters. Since
A tragic accident happened in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. During the Rath Yatra of the
Monsoon rains have started once again in the country. The Meteorological Department has predicted
JEE Advanced 2022: JEE Advanced 2022 question papers released, answer key will come on this date
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay/IIT Bombay has released the question paper for JEE Advanced
IPL: When Sourav Ganguly told Shoaib Akhtar on dismissing Sachin Tendulkar - people will kill you
Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar got a chance to play in the first season of the Indian
This festive season amid rising inflation, demand for high and mid-range products has boosted sal
Poor financially more vigilant, no need of moratorium
With the pace of economic activity increasing, loan installments have started coming in fast with
In the academic session (2022-23), it will now be mandatory to study disaster management in under
Women Celebrate Spirit of Experimentation through Films
New Delhi March 3 (IANS) Women filmmakers across the glob
