New Delhi: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) celebrated a significant achievement on Sunday as it successfully executed the third and final landing in the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Landing Experiment (LEX). The winged vehicle, named Pushpak, completed a precise horizontal landing, showcasing advanced autonomous capabilities under challenging conditions.RLV-LEX3 images pic.twitter.com/PO0v0StC3A— ISRO (@isro) June 23, 2024ISRO launched PushpakPushpak, following in the footsteps of earlier missions ALV LEX-01 and LEX-02, demonstrated its autonomous landing prowess under more rigorous release and wind conditions. Released from an Indian Air Force Chinook Helicopter at an altitude of 4.5 km, Pushpak autonomously navigated cross-range correction maneuvers from a release point 4.5 km away from the runway.Pushpak achieved horizontal landingApproaching the runway, Pushpak achieved a horizontal landing at the centerline with a landing velocity exceeding 320 kmph, significantly higher than commercial aircraft or typical fighter jets. Post-touchdown, it slowed down to approximately 100 kmph using a brake parachute, followed by the landing gear brakes for further deceleration. During the ground roll phase, Pushpak utilized its rudder and nose wheel steering system to maintain stability along the runway. The mission simulated high-speed landing conditions crucial for space-returning vehicles, reaffirming ISROs mastery in acquiring critical technologies for RLV development. It validated advanced guidance algorithms essential for future Orbital Re-entry Missions, addressing longitudinal and lateral plane error corrections. RLV-LEX integrated multisensor fusion technology, including Inertial sensors, Radar altimeter, Flush air data system, Pseudolite system, and NavIC, highlighting ISROs capability in sensor technology integration.ISRO demonstrated capability to reuse flight systems Notably, ISRO demonstrated the capability to reuse flight systems across multiple missions without modifications, a testament to its design efficiency and cost-effectiveness in space missions.Colloborative effortsThe collaborative effort, led by VSSC and involving multiple ISRO centers like SAC, ISTRAC, SDSC-SHAR, received substantial support from Indian Air Force (IAF), Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Regional Centre for Military Airworthiness (RCMA), National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Indian aerospace industrial partners, Indian Oil Corporation, and Airport Authority of India (AAI). The successful conclusion of RLV LEX-03 marks a pivotal moment in Indias space exploration journey, setting the stage for future advancements in reusable launch vehicle technology.
