ISRO Set To Test Launch Reusable Launch Vehicle ‘Pushpak’ On Friday

The Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO will be testing its Reusable Launch Vehicle Pushpak at the Aeronautical Test Range in Challakere near Chitradurga in Karnataka on Friday morning.

ISRO Chairman S Somnath and other senior officials will be present on the occasion. The first test was conducted in April last year when a scaled down version of the Launch Vehicle was tested from the Challakere Runway.

This time too the scaled down version of Pushpak Reusable Launch Vehicle will be carried to an altitude of about 4.5 kms by an IAF helicopter and released after attaining the predetermined pillbox parameters.

The vehicle has to account for wind speed, velocity and other obstacles and land perfectly on the runway. The onboard Navigation system will assist the Vehicle landing at the high velocity of 350 kmph, by overcoming the obstacles around the runway.

The test will help determine the approach and landing manoeuvres using the integrated navigation, guidance and control system. The reusable launch vehicle being developed by ISRO will cut the launch expenditure and help India in its  space exploration missions.

State of the art technology developed for the Reusable vehicle includes accurate Navigation hardware and software, Pseudolite system, Ka Band Radar altimeter, NavIC receiver, sensors, indigenous landing gear, aerofoil honeycomb fins and brake parachute system.