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.
Former fast bowler Mohammed Shami was heartbroken after Pakistan's five-wicket defeat in the fina
The presidential election results will be out today. NDA candidate Draupadi Murmu will win or the
The ongoing encounter between terrorists and security forces in Kulgaon, Jammu, and Kashmir ended
Taarak Mehta ... returning to 'Anjali Bhabhi'? Sunayana Fozdar replied
There are discussions on TV's well-known family comedy show 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma'. In
Himachal to host conference of public service commissions
Shimla, March 5 (IANS) The Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC) will host a three
The historic Koninghaven Bridge in the Netherlands will be demolished to give way to the world's
Air India: Shock to Air India in the case of 988 crore refund, now also fined 11 crore
The US government has fined Air India $1.4 million or about Rs 11.38 crore, for the delay in refu
A Home Guard jawan was killed and several policemen and around 24 people were injured in stone pe
Omicron Variant: 99% of Omicron patients are recovering in seven days, then why are doctors alert.
The cases of corona infection are increasing rapidly again across the country. In the last 24 hou
New Delhi: Between the Corona crisis and the lockdown, economic insecurity among the people livin
