ISRO's latest shuttle test paves way for cost-effective space missions

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has celebrated yet another milestone with the successful test of its RLV-TD Pushpack space shuttle demonstrator. This trial aimed to mirror the shuttle's conditions upon re-entering the Earth's atmosphere from space, and it met all expectations with flying colors.

The journey began with a CH-47F Chinook helicopter lifting the RLV-RD Pushpack shuttle into the sky. Once reaching an altitude of about 2.8 miles, the unmanned shuttle detached and took control of its flight path, eventually gliding to a smooth landing at the predetermined airport.

ISRO's test aimed to replicate the high-speed maneuvering and landing phase experienced by a shuttle returning from space. The successful execution of this phase marks a significant milestone in the project.

Notably, the test reemployed components from an earlier demonstrator, highlighting the shuttle's potential for reusability in future space explorations.

The initial trial of this space shuttle demonstrator, propelled by a launch vehicle, took place in 2016. Following its ascent to approximately 43.5 miles, the shuttle executed a controlled descent, ultimately landing on a simulated "runway" in the Indian Ocean, just as planned.

The RLV-TD Pushpack shuttle, with its 21.3-foot length and 11.8-foot wingspan, stands roughly 30% smaller than its American counterpart, the X-37B. The ambition for the final version of the Indian shuttle is to double the size of the current demonstrator.

Currently, the RLV-TD operates as a flying laboratory, facilitating the study and enhancement of technologies critical to achieving hypersonic speeds, mastering autonomous landings, and conducting powered flights.

Launched in 2012, the shuttle development program aspires to significantly reduce the costs of India's space missions. Achieving an 80% reduction in expenses for delivering cargo to low Earth orbit (LEO) stands at the heart of this initiative. With the advancement of reusable vehicles, ISRO envisions initiating cost-effective space missions by the decade's end.