RLV Technology Demonstration Programme
GSLV Mk II |
Reusable Launch Vehicle–Technology Demonstration Programme is a series of
For this purpose, a winged
History
In 2006 the
In March 2010, ISRO conducted the flight testing of its new sounding rocket: Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV-D01), weighing 3 tonnes at lift-off, a diameter of .56 m (1 ft 10 in), and a length of ~10 m (33 ft).[7] It carried a passive scramjet engine combustor module as a test-bed for demonstration of air-breathing propulsion technology.[8]
In January 2012, ISRO announced that a scaled prototype, called Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD), was approved to be built and tested.[9] The aerodynamics characterization on the RLV-TD prototype was done by National Aerospace Laboratories in India. The RLV-TD is in the last stages of construction by a Hyderabad-based private company called CIM Technologies.
By May 2015, engineers at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station were installing thermal tiles on the outer surface of the RLV-TD to protect it against the intense heat during atmospheric reentry.[10] This prototype weighs around 1.5 tonnes and flew to an altitude of 65 km[10] mounted on top of an expendable solid booster HS9.[11][12]
On August 28, 2016, ISRO successfully tested its scramjet engine on second developmental flight of its Advanced Technology Vehicle ATV-D02 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre for 28 August 2016.[13][14] The scramjet engine will be integrated to the RLV at a later stage of development.[15]
Pushpak (RLV-TD)
Pushpak (
In January 2012, the design of ISRO's reusable launch vehicle was approved by the National Review Committee and clearance was granted to build the vehicle. The vehicle was named 'Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator' (RLV-TD).[17] ISRO aims to bring down the cost of payload delivery to low Earth orbit by 80% from existing $20,000/kg to $4,000/kg.[18][19][20]
The RLV-TD was developed with an objective to test various aspects such as
A team of 750 engineers at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre,
Engines
In January 2006, ISRO completed the design, development and tests of Scramjet (supersonic ramjet) at its Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. During the ground tests, stable supersonic combustion with an inlet Mach number 6 was demonstrated for 7 seconds.
On 3 March 2010, ISRO successfully conducted the
RLV TD Experiments
Hypersonic Flight Experiment
The Reusable Launch Vehicle Hypersonic Flight Experiment or RLV HEX was the first test flight in the RLV Technology Demonstration Programme. HEX was successfully conducted on 23 May 2016.[2][30][31] RLV-TD consists of a fuselage (body), a nose cap, double delta wings and twin vertical rudders. It has active control surfaces called Elevons and Rudders.[31] Apart from the twin rudders it is similar in shape and operation to a small Space Shuttle Orbiter. TDV uses 600 or so heat resistant silica tiles and Flexible External Insulation, nose-cap is made out Carbon-Carbon composite with SiC coating. The leading edges of twin rudders are Inconel-718, wing leading edges of 15CDV6.[32][33][34][35][36][37]
HEX was the first test flight of a reusable launch vehicle developed by India. The test flight objectives included:[38]
- Validating the aerodynamic design characteristics during hypersonic flight
- Characterize induced loads during the hypersonic descent through the atmosphere
- Assess the performance of the carbon fibreused in construction of the nose of the vehicle
- Demonstrate first stage separation sequencing
The vehicle was tracked during its flight from ground stations at Sriharikota and a shipborne terminal. The total flight duration from launch to splashdown lasted about 773.6 seconds.[39] The unit was not planned to be recovered.[40][41] ISRO plans to construct an airstrip greater than 4km long in Sriharikota island in the "near future". Critical technologies such as autonomous navigation, guidance & control, reusable thermal protection system, and descent mission management were validated in this flight.[42]
Landing Experiment
The Reusable Launch Vehicle Landing Experiment or RLV-LEX was the second test flight in the RLV Technology Demonstration Programme following the Hypersonic Flight Experiment. The demonstration trials will pave the way for the two-stage-to-orbit (TSTO) fully reusable launch vehicle. Furthermore, more test similar to RLV-LEX will be conducted to test other conditions like wind, different failure conditions and other factors to finalise the testing of the vehicle.[43]
RLV-LEX-01
RLV-LEX was successfully conducted on 2 April 2023 at the Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range.[44] The flight took off at 7:10 AM and was released mid-air at a downrange of 4.6 km. The Vehicle landed at about 7:40 AM
The test flight objectives included:[45]
- Simulating the exact conditions of a Space Re-entry vehicle's landing - high speed, unmanned, autonomous, precise landing from the same return path
- Validating the landing parameters such as the ground relative velocity, the sinking rate of landing gears and precise body rates as might be experienced by an orbital re-entry space vehicle on its return path
The Test Vehicle was dropped from an Indian Air Force Boeing CH-47 Chinook Heavy-Lift Helicopter after being carried as an underslung payload.
After the successful completion of the mission,
RLV-LEX-02
Another landing experiment was conducted at Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range on 22 March 2024.
Future
Two more experiments are planned by ISRO: OREX (Orbital Return Flight Experiment) and SPEX (Scramjet Propulsion Experiment).[10][51][52] The OREX will launch on a GSLV mk.II rocket and renter the earth's atmosphere for a landing to demonstrate the viability of the project.
Gallery
See also
- DRDO
- Space Rider a planned robotic spaceplane by ESA
References
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Feasibility study of project "AVATAR)" has been done by a group of scientists in DRDO. ISRO has no connection with the project.
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External links