India’s 21st century ‘Pushpak Viman’ will take off at 7 a.m. tomorrow, redefining space exploration
The upcoming launch marks the third flight of Pushpak, with the focus being on testing its robotic landing capabilities under more complex conditions
A state-of-the-art, winged rocket, comparable in size to an SUV, is primed for its trial flight at a defence airstrip in Karnataka. The rocket named “Pushpak” is scheduled to launch from the Chalakere Runway at 7 am tomorrow.This Re-usable Launch Vehicle (RLV), often referred to as the “indigenous space shuttle”, represents India’s ambitious venture into the realm of reusable rockets. The upcoming launch marks the third flight of Pushpak, with the focus being on testing its robotic landing capabilities under more complex conditions.
S Somanath, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), confidently stated that the Pushpak launch vehicle embodies India’s daring endeavour to make space exploration more cost-effective. He explained that Pushpak, as a futuristic Reusable Launch Vehicle, is designed to safely return the upper stage, which contains all the costly electronics, back to Earth, thereby making it reusable. He further added that in the future, it could potentially refuel satellites in orbit or retrieve them for maintenance. He emphasized that India is committed to reducing space debris and views Pushpak as a significant step in that direction.
Pushpak: A Decade-Long Project
The RLV, which was under development for a decade, had its first flight from Sriharikota in 2016. It successfully landed on a simulated runway in the Bay of Bengal. However, according to the plan, it was not retrieved and eventually sank into the sea.
A subsequent test, named RLV-LEX, was carried out successfully on April 2, 2023, at the Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range. In this test, the winged rocket was airlifted by an Indian Air Force (IAF) Chinook Helicopter and then released to execute an autonomous landing, which proceeded flawlessly.
On the subject of the name, Mr Somanath explained that “Pushpak Viman”, a legendary spaceship mentioned in the Ramayan and associated with the God of Wealth, Kuber, seemed a fitting name for India’s most audacious 21st Century rocket. He expressed optimism that Pushpak could potentially generate substantial revenue for India once it becomes commercially available.
Mr Sunil P, Program Director, Advanced Technology & Systems Group, Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, declared that “Pushpak is the future”. He reiterated ISRO’s goal to develop a vehicle that offers a more economical means of accessing space.
The idea of creating an indigenous version of the space shuttle was conceived in India over 15 years ago. A decade ago, a dedicated team of engineers and scientists embarked on the mission to turn the RLV concept into reality.
The spacecraft, resembling a 6.5-meter airplane and weighing 1.75 tons, will be airlifted by an IAF helicopter. During the descent, which is essentially a gliding phase, small thrusters will guide the vehicle to its precise landing spot.
The government has invested more than ₹ 100 crore in this project, marking a significant milestone as India progresses towards establishing its own space station, the Bhartiya Antariksha Station, by 2035.
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