India successfully lands a prototype of the RLV-TD, a second stage flying vehicle [VIDEO]
(ISRO https://bit.ly/3ZA4AHa)
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has successfully landed a prototype of the RLV-TD reusable cruise first stage reentry vehicle.
The ship was dropped from a helicopter, and it successfully landed in fully automatic mode.
Today, many countries, including India, are developing reusable systems for launching ships and apparatuses into space.
The country has been developing the RLV-TD (Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator) project since 2012.
The RLV-TD is a prototype of the first stage of a future reusable rocket, which must independently return to the runway after use with the help of wings.
The second stage will also be reusable, but it will return to Earth using a parachute.
TESTS
The first suborbital hypersonic flight tests of the RLV-TD took place in 2016, when the prototype flew 65 kilometers, successfully testing its systems and thermal protection.
However, on that occasion the vehicle splashed down hard in the ocean.
Now, on April 2, the CH-47 helicopter lifted the new RLV-TD model, which is 1.6 times smaller than the original prototype, to a height of 4.6 kilometers.
Then, the vehicle was released into free flight.
The prototype autonomously performed an approach maneuver to the runway at the Challaker test site and landed softly, braking with the help of a release parachute.
The whole flight took 30 minutes and went without problems.
Sources:
- IndiaToday: https://www.indiatoday.in/science/photo/isros-rlv-lands-in-karnataka-bringing-india-closer-to-space-plane-dreams-see-pics-2355167-2023-04-03
- ISRO Twitter: https://twitter.com/ISROSpaceflight/status/1642415260434059265
- SpaceRef: https://spaceref.com/newspace-and-tech/isro-conducts-reusable-launch-vehicle-autonomous-landing-mission-rlv-lex/
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