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India’s Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV): Everything you need to know | Science & Technology for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Significance of Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV)


Introduction

  • RLV is a crucial solution for achieving low-cost, reliable, and on-demand access to space.
  • The Indian space shuttle, RLV-TD, took five years to develop, with a government investment of Rs. 95 crore.
  • The primary objective of RLV is to test the vehicle's capability to survive re-entry at supersonic speeds.

Reducing Launch Costs

  • The key to reducing satellite launch costs is rocket reusability.
  • ISRO scientists believe that successful reusability technology could reduce launch costs by up to 10 times, bringing it down to $2,000 per kg from the current $20,000 per kg.
  • NASA's space shuttle program, which used reusable vehicles, was grounded in 2011 after over three decades of missions.

India's RLV and Hypersonic Flight Experiment


Overview

  • ISRO conducted the RLV Technology Demonstrator (TD) experiment, known as the hypersonic flight experiment.
  • The mission lasted approximately 10 minutes from liftoff to splashdown.
  • The experiment aimed to test the shuttle's ability to glide over a virtual runway in the Bay of Bengal, 500 km from the coast.
  • The RLV-TD was not designed to float, so recovery from the sea is unlikely; it is expected to disintegrate upon water impact.

Vehicle Details

  • The RLV-TD is a 6.5-meter-long, 1.7-ton prototype.
  • It uses a special solid-fueled booster in the first stage to reach about 70 km into the atmosphere before descent.
  • Small thrusters assist in navigating the vehicle during the descent phase.
  • The final version of RLV is expected to be ready in 10-15 years.

List of India's Launchers

  • SLV (Satellite Launch Vehicle) - Historic
  • ASLV (Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle) - Historic
  • PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) - Operational
  • GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) - Operational
  • Sounding Rockets - Operational
  • LVM (Launch Vehicle Mark 3) - Future

Types of India's Spacecraft

  • Communication Satellites
  • Earth Observation Satellites
  • Navigation Satellites
  • Scientific Exploration Satellites
  • Experimental Satellites
  • Small Satellites
  • Student Satellites

Major Missions

  • Mars Orbiter Mission
  • LVM3-X (CARE)
  • GSAT-16 (using cryogenic engine)
  • PSLV-C27/IRNSS-1D (navigation satellites)
  • PSLV C37 (104 satellites).

Conclusion

  • Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) technology holds the promise of significantly reducing the cost of satellite launches, making space more accessible and affordable.
  • ISRO's RLV-TD and hypersonic flight experiment mark important milestones in India's pursuit of reusable space launch technology.
The document India’s Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV): Everything you need to know | Science & Technology for UPSC CSE is a part of the UPSC Course Science & Technology for UPSC CSE.
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