# Own author
Thiruvananthapuram: Vikram Sarabhai Space Center is a new step in space exploration. Landing test of RLV, a reusable launcher, successful. With the advent of RLV, the cost of space launchers can be reduced.
In May 2016, the RLV HEX vehicle landed on an imaginary runway over the Bay of Bengal. But a special mission called RLV-LEX (Landing Experiment) was planned and successfully tested this morning to address several challenges faced during precision landing on the actual runway.
The test was conducted at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Chitradurga, Karnataka in the early hours of April 2. An Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter took off with the RLV at 7:10 a.m., at an altitude of 4.5 km above sea level, after obtaining the predetermined pillbox parameters based on the RLV’s mission management computer command, (RLV 4.6 km release conditions comprising position, speed, altitude, body rate etc. 10 parameters included) approach and landing were carried out using Integrated Navigation, Guidance & Control System and autonomous landing was completed at ATR air strip by 7:40 p.m.
The RLV performed an autonomous landing under the exact conditions of a space re-entry vehicle landing. High speed on the return path, autonomous controls, precision landing (as an orbital vehicle returns from space), landing parameters such as relative ground speed, landing gear sink rate, precision body rates, precision navigation hardware and software, pseudolite system, Ka-band Several cutting-edge technologies including radar altimeter, navigation receiver, indigenous landing gear, aerofoil honeycomb-cheap fins and brake parachute system were developed for the RLV LEX mission.This made it the first time in the world that a winged vehicle was carried by a helicopter at an altitude of 4.5 km and made an autonomous landing on the runway. India has achieved
ISRO indigenously developed local navigation systems based on several pseudolite systems, instrumentation and sensor systems etc. for LEX. A digital elevation model (DEM) of the landing site with a Ka-band radar altimeter provided accurate elevation information. Extensive windtunnel tests and CFD simulations enabled the design of the RLV’s aerodynamic structure prior to flight.
The use of contemporary technologies developed for RLV LEX will pave the way for making ISRO’s other operational launch vehicles more cost effective.
LEX began with an integrated navigation test in 2019, followed by multiple engineering model trials and captive phase tests in the following years. Along with ISRO, IAF, Similac, ADE and ADRDE contributed to the experiment. The IAF team joined hands with the project team and conducted multiple sorties to complete the release scenarios.
ISRO Chairman, Shri S Somnath witnessed the experiment and congratulated the team. He opined that with today’s LEX test, the dream of an Indian reusable launch vehicle is one step closer to reality.
VSSC Director Dr S Unnikrishnan Nair and ATSP Program Director Shri Shyam Mohan N led the teams. RLV Project Director Dr. Jayakumar M was the Mission Director and Mr. Muthupandyan J was the Vehicle Director, Associate Project Director of RLV. ISTRAC Director Sri Ramakrishna attended the event.