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India Successfully Launched a Mini Space Shuttle Prototype

May 25, 2016 | Johannes Van Zijl

India's HS9 solid rocket launching
Photo credit: Indian Space Research Organisation (image has been cropped)

India joins the reusable space shuttle club!

India has now joined the very exclusive list of countries that have launched a space shuttle above Earth’s atmosphere, albeit a one-fifth-scale model and without any crew onboard. The launch marked a crucial test in India’s efforts to develop their own reusable space shuttles and rockets.

The Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) was tested for the first time on Sunday night (May 22), which saw the shuttle being launched from Sriharikota Island, India.

RLV-TD getting ready for launch

Photo credit: Indian Space Research Organisation, RLV-TD getting ready for launch.

An HS9 solid rocket booster launched the 1.5-ton space shuttle to an altitude of 35 miles (56 kilometers) above Earth, where the HS9 rocket detached from the shuttle. The RLV-TD then made a further accent to 40.3 miles (65 kilometers) into orbit, and although it did not technically reach outer space, it reached an altitude above Earth’s atmosphere.

SEE ALSO: Thirty Years On: What the Challenger Disaster Meant for Our Race Into Space

The RLV-TD then made a quick descent and re-entered Earth’s atmosphere at a speed of Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound). The RLV-TD shuttle’s guidance and control system steered the shuttle accurately through a safe decent and landed back on Earth in the Bay of Bengal. The entire mission lasted about 770 seconds!

"In this flight, critical technologies such as autonomous navigation, guidance and control, reusable thermal-protection system, and re-entry mission management have been successfully validated," the Indian Space Research Organisation, said in a media release.

The Indian Space Research Organization believes the reusable shuttle and rocket technology could greatly reduce the cost of getting satellites and astronauts to space — making the space program much more affordable, without the need to continually build new shuttles and rockets.

The Indian Prime minister shared his delight and congratulated the efforts of all those involved:

Although the RLV-TD reusable spacecraft technology is somewhat behind SpaceX, which has made significant strides recently with the launch and return of a reusable rocket to Earth, the current test is a preliminary step towards developing the technology to a useful, full-scale level in India.

A further two tests will be completed with RLV-TD before the full-scale shuttle will be built. We look forward to what the Indian Space Research Organization has in store for the upcoming months.

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