ISRO’s ‘Pushpak’ Spaceplane Successfully Lands in Final Test

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved another milestone with the successful completion of the third and final test of its Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) named ‘Pushpak’. The test took place at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka.

Test Details

The test, conducted at 07:10 IST, demonstrated the autonomous landing capability of the RLV under more challenging conditions compared to previous tests. ‘Pushpak’ was released from an Indian Air Force Chinook Helicopter at an altitude of 4.5 km and performed a precise horizontal landing on the runway.

Technical Achievements

The mission validated advanced guidance algorithms and multisensor fusion technologies essential for future orbital re-entry missions. The RLV-LEX-03 mission reused the winged body and flight systems from the previous LEX-02 mission, showcasing ISRO’s robust design and reuse capabilities.

Collaborative Effort

The mission was led by VSSC and involved multiple ISRO centers, the Indian Air Force, and other Indian organizations. ISRO Chairman S Somanath and VSSC Director Dr S Unnikrishnan Nair congratulated the team for their efforts and highlighted the importance of this success for future missions.