ISRO accomplishes third and last landing trial of Reusable Launch Vehicle 'Pushpak' successfully

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had a successful Sunday, achieving a third consecutive success in the Reusable Launch Vehicle Landing Experiment by showcasing the launch vehicle's autonomous landing capability at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Kudapura, Challakere taluk of Chitradurga.

At 7.10 am, the flying craft completed the third and last Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Landing Experiment (LEX) with success. The RLV LEX-03 mission showcased the RLV's ability to land autonomously in tougher release and strong wind scenarios. The Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter dropped the vehicle, Pushpak, from a height of 4.5 km.

Pushpak conducted autonomous cross-range correction maneuvers, drew closer to the runway, and achieved an accurate horizontal landing at the centreline of the runway.

The project, led by VSSC, involved teamwork between ISRO centers (SAC, ISTRAC, SDSC-SHAR), with assistance from IAF, ADE, ADRDE, RCMA, NAL, IIT Kanpur, Indian aerospace partners, IOCL, and AAI. ISRO Chairman S Somanath praised the team for their commitment to maintaining a series of successful outcomes in intricate missions. J Muthupandian served as the Mission Director, whereas B Karthik was the Vehicle Director for the mission.

VSSC Director S Unnikrishnan Nair stated that this continual success boosts ISRO's confidence in vital technologies needed for upcoming orbital reentry missions. It simulated the vehicle's return from space with high-speed landing conditions and the approach and landing interface.