ISRO’s Swadeshi Space Shuttle ‘Pushpak’ Makes Successful Test Landing

New Delhi: The “swadeshi space shuttle” of ISRO, Pushpak, successfully landed on a runway in Karnataka on Thursday morning taking India a step ahead in the attempt to enter the reusable rocket segment in space missions.

The SUV-sized winged rocket Pushpak was dropped from an Air Force helicopter as part of the test. The outcomes were “excellent and precise”, said Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief S Somanath.

“ISRO nails it again! Pushpak (RLV-TD), the winged vehicle, landed autonomously with precision on the runway after being released from an off-nominal position,” said the space agency.

ISRO said the mission successfully simulated the approach and high-speed landing conditions of RLV returning from space.

“The winged vehicle, called Pushpak, was lifted by an Indian Airforce Chinook helicopter, and was released from 4.5 km altitude. After release at distance of 4km from the runway, Pushpak autonomously approached the runway along with cross range corrections. It landed precisely on the runway and came to a halt using its brake parachute, landing gear brakes and nose wheel steering system,” it said in a statement.

RLV-LEX-02:
The approach and the landing. pic.twitter.com/hI9k86KiBv

— ISRO (@isro) March 22, 2024

The experiment was the third flight of Pushpak, part of a test of its robotic landing ability in more complicated circumstances. It is expected to take many more years to deploy Pushpak operationally.

“It is India’s futuristic Reusable Launch Vehicle, where the most expensive part, the upper stage, which houses all the expensive electronics, is made reusable by bringing it back safely back to Earth. Later, it could even do refuelling of in-orbit satellites or retrieving satellites from orbit for refurbishment. India seeks to minimise space debris and Pushpak is one step towards that as well,” Somanath had earlier asserted.

RLV-LEX-02 Experiment:
🇮🇳ISRO nails it again!🎯

Pushpak (RLV-TD), the winged vehicle, landed autonomously with precision on the runway after being released from an off-nominal position.

🚁@IAF_MCC pic.twitter.com/IHNoSOUdRx

— ISRO (@isro) March 22, 2024

The making of the space shuttle by a dedicated team of engineers and scientists began 10 years ago. The 6.5-meter aeroplane-like craft weighs 1.75 tons. During its descent, small thrusters help the vehicle navigate to the exact spot where it is supposed to land. The government has invested over Rs 100 crore in the project.