India’s 21st Century Pushpak ‘Viman’ to be launched from D-Day tomorrow at 7 am

Trivandrum:

A stylish SUV-sized winged rocket is ready for an experimental flight from a defense airport in Karnataka. The rocket will be launched from Chalakur runway at 7 am tomorrow morning. The Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) named Pushpak, sometimes referred to as the Swadeshi Space Shuttle, is India’s bold attempt to enter the field of reusable rockets. The current experiment is Pushpak’s third flight – all part of an effort to test its robot’s ability to land in more complex situations.

“The Pushpak launch vehicle is India’s bold attempt to reach space in the most affordable manner,” said S Somanath, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). “It is a repeatable step forward for India’s futuristic With a launch vehicle, the most expensive part of it, the upper stage, which houses all the expensive electronic equipment, can be reused by bringing it safely back to Earth. Later, it can even refuel satellites in orbit” or from orbit Recycling satellites for refurbishment. India seeks to minimize space debris and Pushpak is a step towards this goal,” he said.

After ten years in the making, the RLV took off from Sriharikota for the first time in 2016 and successfully landed on a virtual runway in the Bay of Bengal. The RLV was never recovered. As planned, it sank into the sea.

On April 2, 2023, the second test was successfully conducted at the Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range of the defense establishment. The winged rocket, named RLV-LEX, was hoisted into the air by an Indian Air Force (IAF) Chinook helicopter, hung on its landing gear, and landed smoothly via autonomous landing.

Regarding the name, Mr. Somanath said that “Pushpak Viman” is the legendary spaceship named in India in “Ramayana” and is considered to be the vehicle of Lord Khubal, the lord of wealth. Therefore, it is appropriate that India’s boldest rocket of the 21st century is named “Pushpak”. “It is expected that in the future, when it becomes a commercial launcher, it may become a cash cow for India.”

“Pushpak is the future,” said Mr. Sunil P, Project Director, Advanced Technology and Systems Group, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. “ISRO aims to fly a more cost-effective vehicle and provide very low cost access to space,” he added.

India considered building its own version of the space shuttle 15 years ago. Ten years ago, a dedicated team of engineers and scientists worked to make RLV a reality.

The 6.5-meter-long, aircraft-like spacecraft weighs 1.75 tons and will be lifted by an Indian Air Force helicopter. This stage during descent is essentially a glider-like event, with small thrusters helping the craft navigate to the exact spot where it should land.

The government has invested over Rs 100 crore in the project, which is a milestone in the country’s journey towards building its own space station – Bhartiya Antariksha Space Station – by 2035.