The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a major breakthrough in reusable launch vehicle (RLV) technology. ISRO successfully conducted a landing experiment of the RLV LEX-02 at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka. The experiment involved challenging maneuvers and dispersions, with the vehicle autonomously correcting both cross-range and downrange deviations before landing on the runway.

The RLV LEX-02 mission demonstrated the autonomous landing capability of the reusable launch vehicle from challenging initial conditions after release from a helicopter. Named Pushpak, the winged vehicle was lifted by an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter and released from an altitude of 4.5 km. It autonomously approached the runway with cross-range corrections and landed precisely, using its brake parachute, landing gear brakes, and nose wheel steering system.

The success of the RLV LEX-02 mission has re-validated ISRO’s indigenously developed technologies in navigation, control systems, landing gear, and deceleration systems, essential for performing a high-speed autonomous landing of a space-returning vehicle. The mission was jointly accomplished by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Liquid Propulsion System Centre (LPSC), and ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU).

This achievement builds on the success of the RLV-LEX-01 mission, with the winged body and all flight systems used in RLV-LEX-01 being reused after certification. The airframe structure and landing gear were strengthened based on observations from RLV-LEX-01 to tolerate higher landing loads.

ISRO’s efforts in developing essential technologies for a fully reusable launch vehicle aim to enable low-cost access to space. This success reaffirms India’s commitment to advancing space exploration through innovative technology development and successful mission execution.