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.
Russia Ukraine Conflict: There is good news for thousands of Indians trapped in Ukraine due to th
After Gujarat, now Madhya Pradesh Education Board has also canceled the 12th board exam. Chief Mi
Actor John Abraham is in the news these days for his action film 'Attack'. 'Attack', which was re
Corona: Trump returns from hospital saying 'no need to fear'
US President Donald Trump has been discharged from the Walter Reed Military Hospital where he was
Petrol Diesel Price: Oil companies have released the prices of petrol and diesel for today. Today
The country's nuclear power capacity has increased by 40% in 8 years. Union Minister Jitendra Sin
Big accident: debris of SpaceX rocket fell in the field, launched on March 4
Last month, the SpaceX rocket, abandoned from the US, succumbed to the accident. A large part of
After the Supreme Court in the US overturned its 49-year-old decision that legalized abortion, th
Goa to send ore capping details to environment ministry
Panaji, March 10 (IANS) In a bid to speed up the restarti
Coronavirus has started spreading in the country once again. The number of coronavirus infected i
