V-LEX-02 Mission

Source– This post on V-LEX-02 Mission has been created based on the article “Pushpak, ISRO’s reusable launch vehicle, clears test” published in “Indian Express” on 21 June 2024.

Why in the news?

Recently, ISRO successfully completed the third reusable launch vehicle landing experiment (RLV LEX) at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka.

About V-LEX-02 Mission

1. The RLV-LEX-02 mission is the third and final test of a series of landing experiments conducted at the Aeronautical Test Range.

2. Mission Objectives: The primary objective of the RLV-LEX-02 mission was to demonstrate the autonomous landing capability of the reusable launch vehicle (RLV) from challenging initial conditions after being released from a helicopter.

3. In this mission, the winged vehicle named Pushpak was lifted by an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter and released from an altitude of 4.5 km.

4. Pushpak autonomously approached the runway, performing cross-range corrections. It then landed precisely on the runway, utilizing a brake parachute, landing gear brakes, and a nose wheel steering system to come to a halt.

5. Reusability and Systems: The winged body and all flight systems used in the RLV-LEX-01 mission were reused in the RLV-LEX-02 mission after receiving the necessary certifications and clearances.

6. The mission was accomplished through the collaboration of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), the Liquid Propulsion System Centre (LPSC), and the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU).

About Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV)

1. The reusable launch vehicle is essentially a space plane with a low lift-to-drag ratio, requiring it to approach at high glide angles and necessitating a landing at high velocities of 350 km/h.

2. The RLV utilizes several indigenous systems, including localized navigation systems based on pseudolite systems, as well as instrumentation and sensor systems developed by ISRO.

UPSC Syllabus: Science and Technology