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.

Recent Developments

1. 

RLV “Pushpak” – Landing Experiments (LEX-01 to LEX-03)

• After the HEX mission, ISRO shifted focus to autonomous runway landing capability.
• LEX-01 (April 2023): First successful autonomous landing at Aeronautical Test Range, Chitradurga—vehicle released from an IAF Chinook at ~4.5 km altitude.
• LEX-02 (March 2024): Tested landing in off-nominal conditions, verified cross-range capability and precision guidance.
• LEX-03 (June 2024): Reused the same vehicle from LEX-02—validated true reusability and high-speed landing at ~320 km/h.
• The RLV-TD used in these missions is now named “Pushpak”.

2. 

Next-Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) Approval

• In March 2025, the Government approved NGLV—a three-stage, partially reusable rocket.
• First stage: Designed for Vertical Take-off and Vertical Landing (VTVL) recovery and reuse.
• Target: Reduce launch cost per kg further and support large payloads for Gaganyaan, heavy satellites, and interplanetary missions.

3. 

Orbital Re-entry Vehicle (ORV) Roadmap

• ISRO is adapting RLV tech for an Orbital Re-entry Vehicle that can return payloads or crew from orbit.
• First uncrewed ORV flight is planned for late 2020s.

4. 

Policy & Strategic Relevance

• IN-SPACe facilitating private sector collaboration in reusable launch technology.
• RLV tech is part of India’s 2040 space vision, which includes:
  • Indian space station
  • Human lunar mission
  • Large-scale satellite deployment for broadband & earth observation.