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.
Heavy rains and landslides continue to affect life in Brazil. The death toll due to heavy rains a
Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Friday targeted Naz Shah, a Pakistani-origin MP
Dabangg Khan 'Salman Khan' is going through a difficult phase these days. Salman Khan is constant
In Delhi's Daryaganj area on Sunday, the video of a couple entangling, abusing, and abusing the p
Recently, America has taken action against illegal immigrants. In this episode, America sent back
National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval has left for Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe to attend a
Three accused have been arrested in the case of misbehavior with a Japanese girl while applying c
Rishabh Pant got big responsibility for the T20 series against West Indies
Young wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant has been appointed as the vice-captain for the upcoming
More than 7.5 crore people took a dip in the confluence on Mauni Amavasya on Wednesday in the ong
More than half of the country has not got a respite from the severe cold and dense fog. There was
