‘Pushpak’, a reusable launch vehicle, successfully lands autonomously, according to ISRO; View Photos

Using the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Chitradurga, Karnataka, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the reusable launch vehicle (RLV) ‘Pushpak’s’ test landing on Friday, the space agency said. As to the ISRO, this was a part of the ‘RLV LEX-02’ landing experiment.

Notably, the first experiment in the series, dubbed “RLV-LEX-01,” was conducted last year. “Pushpak” was released from an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter as part of “RLV-LEX-02,” according to ISRO.

“More challenging movements with dispersions, cross-range and down-range correction, and runway landing in a completely autonomous mode were all included into the RLV. An Indian Air Force Chinook chopper hoisted the winged vehicle, known as Pushpak, and launched it from a height of 4.5 kilometers. Pushpak made cross-range adjustments and autonomously approached the runway after being released at a distance of 4 kilometers. With the aid of its nose wheel steering system, landing gear brakes, and braking parachute, it touched down perfectly on the runway and came to a stop, according to a news statement from ISRO.