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Hypersonic & Reusable Launch Technology

Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV-LEX Pushpak)

India's Autonomous Hypersonic Spaceplane Demonstrator

Pushpak RLV-LEX is ISRO's winged autonomous spaceplane demonstrator designed to drastically reduce space access costs by recovering and reusing the first stage and orbiter. ISRO has successfully demonstrated autonomous runway landing experiments (RLV-LEX 01, 02, 03) at ATR Chitradurga.

Development History & Milestones

Initiated by VSSC Thiruvananthapuram, RLV-TD completed its first hypersonic flight experiment in May 2016. In April 2023 and 2024, Pushpak executed autonomous landing tests released from a Chinook helicopter under crosswind conditions.

Core Space Applications

  • 1Two-stage-to-orbit (TSTO) reusable launch vehicle system
  • 2In-orbit satellite servicing and space debris mitigation
  • 3Hypersonic flight research and atmospheric re-entry

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ISRO's Pushpak RLV?

Pushpak is ISRO's winged reusable spaceplane designed to land autonomously on a runway after returning from space, enabling low-cost space transport.

Technical Specifications

ConfigurationDelta-wing spaceplane orbiter
Landing Velocity320 km/h autonomous touchdown
Testing LocationAeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga
Target Cost ReductionUp to 80% reduction per kg to orbit