The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully completed its third and final Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Landing Experiment (LEX) on Sunday. This mission, called RLV LEX-03, took place at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
RLV LEX-03 showcased the autonomous landing abilities of the RLV in tougher conditions with stronger winds. The vehicle, named Pushpak, was dropped from an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter at a height of 4.5 km.
Starting from a point 4.5 km from the runway, Pushpak independently corrected its course, approached the runway, and landed precisely in the center.
ISRO Achieves Third Successful Pushpak Landing
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully completed its third Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Landing Experiment, RLV LEX-03, named ‘Pushpak,’ on Sunday. The test occurred at 07:30 IST at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
ISRO announced the achievement on social media, stating, “Hat-trick for ISRO in RLV LEX! ISRO achieved its third (and final) consecutive success in the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Landing Experiment (LEX) on June 23, 2024. ‘Pushpak’ executed a precise horizontal landing, showcasing advanced autonomous capabilities under challenging conditions. With the objectives of RLV-LEX accomplished, ISRO embarks on RLV-ORV, the orbital reusable vehicle.”
Hat-trick for ISRO in RLV LEX! 🚀
🇮🇳ISRO achieved its third and final consecutive success in the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Landing EXperiment (LEX) on June 23, 2024.
"Pushpak" executed a precise horizontal landing, showcasing advanced autonomous capabilities under… pic.twitter.com/cGMrw6mmyH
— ISRO (@isro) June 23, 2024ISRO chairman S. Somanath praised the team’s dedication in maintaining this streak of success in complex missions. J. Muthupandian served as the Mission Director, and B. Karthik was the Vehicle Director for this mission.
Also Read: Chandrayaan 3 Landing Site Officially Named ‘Shiv Shakti’ Zone
What Is The Aim of Pushpak Landing?
The aim of this mission was to replicate the approach, landing interface, and high-speed landing conditions for a vehicle reentering from space, demonstrating ISRO’s expertise in developing critical technologies for Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) development.
This mission validated the advanced guidance algorithm for correcting longitudinal and lateral plane errors, which is essential for future Orbital Re-entry Missions.
Technical Aspects of RLV LEX-03 Mission – Pushpak
Foundation of Previous Missions:
- The RLV LEX-03 mission builds upon the achievements of RLV LEX-01 and LEX-02, showcasing the RLV’s autonomous landing capability under more challenging conditions.
Vehicle Deployment:
- ‘Pushpak,’ the winged vehicle, was released from an Indian Air Force Chinook Helicopter at an altitude of 4.5 km.
- From a release point 4.5 km away from the runway, Pushpak autonomously performed cross-range correction maneuvers, approached, and landed precisely at the runway centerline.
Landing Dynamics:
- Due to its low lift-to-drag ratio aerodynamic configuration, Pushpak landed at a velocity exceeding 320 km/h, which is faster compared to commercial aircraft (260 km/h) and typical fighter aircraft (280 km/h).
- Upon touchdown, a brake parachute reduced the vehicle’s velocity to nearly 100 km/h, followed by landing gear brakes for further deceleration.
Ground Roll Stability:
- Pushpak maintained a stable and precise ground roll along the runway using its rudder and nose wheel steering system during the ground roll phase.
Multisensor Fusion:
- The RLV-LEX utilized multisensor fusion, incorporating an inertial sensor, radar altimeter, flush air data system, pseudolite system, and NavIC for precise navigation and control.
Reusable Systems:
- The RLV LEX-03 mission reused the winged body and flight systems from the LEX-02 mission without any modifications, demonstrating ISRO’s capability to design reusable flight systems for multiple missions.
Collaborative Effort Drives ISRO’s Success
The mission led by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) was a joint initiative that brought together multiple ISRO centers, including SAC, ISTRAC, and SDSC-SHAR.
It also received significant support from various organizations like the Indian Air Force (IAF), Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), and Regional Centre for Military Airworthiness (RCMA) under CEMILAC.
Other contributors included the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Indian aerospace industrial partners, Indian Oil Corporation of India, and the Airport Authority of India.
S Unnikrishnan Nair, Director of VSSC, emphasized that this ongoing success boosts ISRO’s confidence in the essential technologies needed for future orbital re-entry missions.
Also Read: ISRO Launches INSAT-3DS Weather Satellite via GSLVF14
ISRO Achieves Third Successful Pushpak Landing FAQs
Q.1. What is the RLV LEX-03 mission?
Ans. The RLV LEX-03 mission is ISRO’s third and final Reusable Launch Vehicle Landing Experiment, showcasing the autonomous landing capabilities of the Pushpak vehicle under challenging conditions.
Q.2. Where did the RLV LEX-03 experiment take place?
Ans. The RLV LEX-03 experiment was conducted at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
Q.3. How was the Pushpak vehicle deployed during the RLV LEX-03 mission?
Ans. The Pushpak vehicle was released from an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter at an altitude of 4.5 km and performed autonomous maneuvers to land precisely on the runway.
Q.4. What are the technical highlights of the RLV LEX-03 mission?
Ans. Key highlights include advanced guidance algorithms, high-speed landing at over 320 km/h, and multisensor fusion for precise navigation and control.
Q.5. Who were the key contributors to the RLV LEX-03 mission?
Ans. The mission involved collaboration between multiple ISRO centers, the Indian Air Force, ADE, ADRDE, RCMA, NAL, IIT Kanpur, Indian aerospace industrial partners, Indian Oil Corporation, and the Airport Authority of India.
