India’s Space Research Organization (ISRO) has announced its plans to build a reusable launch vehicle, following the successful third test of an unpowered experimental precursor. The precursor, known as the Reusable Launch Vehicle Landing Experiment (RLV-LEX), bears resemblance to NASA’s retired space shuttle, Russia’s Buran reusable vehicle, and the US Air Force’s X-37B autonomous spaceplane.
The RLV-LEX first flew in April 2023, followed by another flight in March 2024. For its third flight, the craft was dropped from a helicopter under stronger wind conditions than previous flights. The vehicle made a 500-meter course adjustment as it came in to land, a significant increase from the 150-meter shift for the vehicle’s second flight. It then performed a precise horizontal landing at the runway centerline.
The landing velocity exceeded 320km/h due to the vehicle’s low lift-to-drag ratio aerodynamic configuration. This is compared to 260km/h for a commercial aircraft and 280km/h for a typical fighter aircraft. A parachute and landing gear brakes were used to bring the vehicle to a halt. Autonomous systems controlled the rudder and nose wheel steering system to keep the craft rolling straight and true.
The successful landing signifies that ISRO has acquired the expertise needed for a future orbital mission. As a result, the agency now embarks into RLV-ORV, the orbital reusable vehicle. However, no timetable for that vehicle’s development or launch was discussed.
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