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.
40 Million More Pushed Into Food Crisis In 2021: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organiza
After the Diwali festival, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Chintan Shivir of Home M
Before IPL 2022, Chennai Super Kings has given a big blow to its fans. Team veteran Mahendra Sing
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a one-day visit to Maharashtra on June 14. Prime Minister Nare
In Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur, the cases of corona infection are constantly increasing, while the num
Prabhas and Kriti Sanon starrer Adipurush, hit the theaters this Friday amidst much buzz. A lot o
After the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian government is in a mood to take strict action agains
A major accident occurred in Baltimore City Maryland state of America. Here, the three-kilometer-
Five people arrested after a student's suicide got bail; Nepali students were forcibly expelled.
Five people arrested in connection with the forcible eviction of Nepali students from hostels of
Delhi NCR Weather: The weather pattern changed again in Delhi NCR, drizzling started
The weather patterns have changed once again in Delhi NCR. A drizzle has started in many areas of
