Reusable launch vehicle
Also called: RLV, Pushpak · Topic: Remote Sensing, GIS and GNSS · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
A reusable launch vehicle (RLV) is a rocket, or a part of one, that comes back after a flight so it can fly again. Older rockets are expendable, which means each one is used once and thrown away. Reusing the costly hardware lowers the cost per kg of putting a satellite into space. To come back safely, an RLV needs three abilities. The first is controlled re-entry, which means passing through the hot upper atmosphere without burning up. The second is autonomous navigation, which means steering itself with no pilot. The third is precision landing on a set spot.
Example
India's test vehicle is Pushpak, a winged RLV shaped like a small aeroplane. In the RLV landing experiments (RLV-LEX), Pushpak landed on a runway by itself. The third and final test, LEX-03, took place on 23 June 2024. Pushpak was released 500 m off to one side of the runway and flew in stronger winds. It touched down at over 320 km/h. These tests proved the landing step only. A full return from orbit has not yet been shown.
Don't confuse with
- Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV): ISRO's planned heavy rocket, approved in September 2024 with ₹8,240 crore. It is not a winged glider. Only its first stage is reusable. It is meant to lift up to 30 t to low earth orbit.