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.
Qatar court has sentenced eight former Indian Navy employees to death on October 27. India is ext
The fight between NCB and NCP leader and minister Nawab Malik is getting bigger. Malik, a cabinet
After brutally killing his mother and four sisters in the Sharanjit Hotel of Charbagh, Arshad did
During the discussion on the Constitution, there was a lot of uproar in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesda
America: 'I Hate You Ind...' Racial assault on Indian women in Texas, abused and slapped
A shameful case of racial attack on Indian women has come to light in America. American-Mexican w
The government has rejected the news that the Tata Group's bid to buy Air India has been approved
Aamir Khan salutes Park Street rape victim's courage
Kolkata, March 14 (IANS) Condoling the passing away of the Park Street rape survivor, who died
Electric vehicles policy is ready in 18 states, know! How is the car market changing?
In the last few years in India, the central government has not only emphasized increasing the con
CUET UG Result 2025 can be declared anytime by the National Examination Agency (NTA). Through the
The Allahabad High Court on Monday transferred a total of 619 judicial officers posted in differe
