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.
Petrol in Delhi costlier by Rs 1.67 and diesel by Rs 7.10 per liter, Delhi government hikes VAT
New Delhi, Business Desk. As soon as the lockdown of the third phase starts with some discounts,
Salman Khan: Rakhi Sawant wants Salman to marry this Pakistani actress, said- 'I have chosen Bhabhi'
Salman Khan is called the most eligible bachelor in Bollywood. The actor's fans are eagerly waiti
Indian Railways has always been making special arrangements for the passengers on festivals. Keep
Australia has announced to send oxygen, ventilators, and PPE kits to India. Australia's Health Mi
Bangladesh has strongly condemned the violent protest outside its Deputy High Commission in Kolka
OnePlus has launched two affordable phones OnePlus Nord 3 5G and OnePlus Nord CE 3 5G and wireles
Milk Price Hike: Milk of Amul and Mother Dairy becomes expensive, new rates apply from today
The Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation has increased the prices of Amul milk by Rs 2
The number of workers trapped in the Silkyara Tunnel of Uttarkashi is 41. Efforts are continuing
भारत में मामले बुधवार को 147 तक पहुंच ग
Covid-19 New Variant: The worldwide devastation caused by the coronavirus has completely changed
