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.
Indian Navy successfully test-fired BrahMos supersonic missile, the target was accurate
India has got a big success on Tuesday. The Indian Navy has successfully test-fired the supersoni
It has been only a few days since the reality show 'Bigg Boss 19' started, but there has been a r
The Uttar Pradesh elections, which are called the semi-finals of the power of the Center, are nea
Retail inflation went out of control for the third consecutive month in March due to rising food
Baba Colony of Badaun city... On the terrace of the double-storey house of a rich family, two inn
DRDO's anti-corona drug 2DG was released on Monday for Emergency Use. Now, these can be given to
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that madrassas should cease to exist. He said t
India At UNSC: India again got Russia's support, and supported permanent membership in UNSC
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has once again supported India for permanent membership in
A parliamentary committee has taken a big step in the case of derogatory remarks made by Ranveer
Structural consultant Chetan Patil has been arrested for the collapse of the statue of Chhatrapat
