<p>The experimental spaceplane of the US Space Force called X-37B is set to use the atmospheric drag of Earth for the first time to change its own orbit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This spaceplane has been in space for more than 10 months. The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle was launched by SpaceX’s&nbsp;Falcon Heavy rocket on December 29, 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is the seventh time the spaceplane has entered orbit and big plans have been made by the Space Force for the last leg of the journey of the test vehicle around the Earth.</p>

<p>The spaceplane will start a series of orbital manoeuvres called as aerobraking in which they use the drag of the atmosphere of Earth to change its orbit while trying to expend minimal fuel, announced the Space Force&nbsp;on Thursday (Oct 10).</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/halloween-scare-listen-to-demonic-sounds-made-by-earths-magnetic-field-when-it-flipped-766867">Halloween scare! Listen to demonic sounds made by Earth's magnetic field when it flipped</a></p>

<p>The X-37B spaceplane has been built by Boeing and it will be disposed of its service module before its remaining mission objectives are completed and will then de-orbit for concluding its seventh mission in space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“This novel and efficient series of manoeuvres demonstrate the Space Force’s commitment to achieving groundbreaking innovation as it conducts national security missions in space,” said Frank Kendall, secretary of the U.S. Air Force, in a statement.</p>

<h2><strong>US Space Force's secretive test vehicle</strong></h2>

<p>The test vehicle's capabilities and specifics have been kept very secretively by the Space Force as the US has been competing with China to develop the next generation of reusable spacecraft.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earth-may-have-once-had-a-ring-system-just-like-saturn-it-was-created-by-759259">&nbsp;Earth likely had a ring around it 466 million years ago. It was created by...</a></p>

<p>The Space Force has shared very little information regarding the ongoing mission of the spaceplane and has only revealed that the vehicle is set to operate in new orbital alignments and take part in experiments with “space domain awareness technologies.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>As part of its seventh mission, the spaceplane will also carry out an experiment designed by NASA which includes exposing plant seeds to the harsh radiation environment found in long-duration spaceflight to gather data required for future crewed missions.</p>

<p>In May 2020, the X-37B was launched atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket as part of its sixth mission and it remained in orbit for 908 days before&nbsp;it landed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in November 2022.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The experimental spaceplane of the US Space Force called X-37B is set to use the atmospheric drag of Earth for the first time to change its own orbit. This spaceplane has been in space for more than 10 months.

The experimental spaceplane of the US Space Force called X-37B is set to use the atmospheric drag of Earth for the first time to change its own orbit. This spaceplane has been in space for more than 10 months. The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle was launched by SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket on December 29, 2023. This is the seventh time the spaceplane has entered orbit and big plans have been made by the Space Force for the last leg of the journey of the test vehicle around the Earth. The spaceplane will start a series of orbital manoeuvres called as aerobraking in which they use the drag of the atmosphere of Earth to change its orbit while trying to expend minimal fuel, announced the Space Force on Thursday (Oct 10). Also Read: Halloween scare! Listen to demonic sounds made by Earth's magnetic field when it flipped The X-37B spaceplane has been built by Boeing and it will be disposed of its service module before its remaining mission objectives are completed and will then de-orbit for concluding its seventh mission in space. “This novel and efficient series of manoeuvres demonstrate the Space Force’s commitment to achieving groundbreaking innovation as it conducts national security missions in space,” said Frank Kendall, secretary of the U.S. Air Force, in a statement. US Space Force's secretive test vehicle The test vehicle's capabilities and specifics have been kept very secretively by the Space Force as the US has been competing with China to develop the next generation of reusable spacecraft. Also Read: Earth likely had a ring around it 466 million years ago. It was created by... The Space Force has shared very little information regarding the ongoing mission of the spaceplane and has only revealed that the vehicle is set to operate in new orbital alignments and take part in experiments with “space domain awareness technologies.” As part of its seventh mission, the spaceplane will also carry out an experiment designed by NASA which includes exposing plant seeds to the harsh radiation environment found in long-duration spaceflight to gather data required for future crewed missions. In May 2020, the X-37B was launched atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket as part of its sixth mission and it remained in orbit for 908 days before it landed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in November 2022. (With inputs from agencies)

US secretive spaceplane to try to change its orbit using Earth's atmosphere

<p>China's secret spaceplane has landed in the Gobi desert after spending 268 days in orbit during its third flight. Reports suggest that the mission was aimed at further developing the vehicle as it raised its altitude to 372 miles (600 kilometres) above Earth. The reusable spaceplane reportedly also released several objects in orbit.</p>

<p>Local media reported that the spaceplane, named Shenlong, touched down early Friday (Sep 6)&nbsp;morning in Beijing at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The spaceplane flew over the dried-up lake bed in the southeastern portion of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region known as Lop Nur, astrophysicist and space tracker Jonathan McDowell wrote on X.</p>

<p>With the space plane, China has been testing the technology to conduct experiments in space. The third mission also aimed to test the plane's reusable technology, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While Beijing has never released any details about its spaceplane, an astrophotographer in Austria clicked some pictures of it in orbit in August. The pictures, although blurry, showed some extraordinary details about the plane. It is supposedly around 30 feet (10 metres) in length and has solar panels stuck to the tail-end of the spacecraft.</p>

<p>The third mission started on December 14, 2023, when it launched on board a Long March 2F carrier rocket. Soon after, it deployed six mystery objects into orbit and they seemed to be emitting various signals. In May, it released an object which has never been identified.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/chinas-secret-spaceplane-ejects-mysterious-object-into-earths-orbit-us-hunts-it-down-726732">China’s secret spaceplane ejects mysterious object into Earth’s orbit</a></strong></p>

<p>Its inaugural mission happened in 2021, and it was in orbit for only two days. The second time it was in orbit was August 2022 when it spent 276 days in space.</p>

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<p>The United States also has a similar spaceplane, the Boeing X-37. It is being developed by the Space Force. It has already undertaken many more missions, and in December 2023 it went to space for its seventh mission which is still ongoing. It also holds the record for the longest-duration mission, spending 908 days in space on its sixth flight.</p>


China's secret spaceplane has landed in the Gobi desert after spending 268 days in orbit during its third flight. Reports suggest that the mission was aimed at further developing the vehicle as it raised its altitude to 372 miles (600 kilometres) above Earth.

China's secret spaceplane has landed in the Gobi desert after spending 268 days in orbit during its third flight. Reports suggest that the mission was aimed at further developing the vehicle as it raised its altitude to 372 miles (600 kilometres) above Earth. The reusable spaceplane reportedly also released several objects in orbit. Local media reported that the spaceplane, named Shenlong, touched down early Friday (Sep 6) morning in Beijing at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert. The spaceplane flew over the dried-up lake bed in the southeastern portion of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region known as Lop Nur, astrophysicist and space tracker Jonathan McDowell wrote on X. With the space plane, China has been testing the technology to conduct experiments in space. The third mission also aimed to test the plane's reusable technology, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported. While Beijing has never released any details about its spaceplane, an astrophotographer in Austria clicked some pictures of it in orbit in August. The pictures, although blurry, showed some extraordinary details about the plane. It is supposedly around 30 feet (10 metres) in length and has solar panels stuck to the tail-end of the spacecraft. The third mission started on December 14, 2023, when it launched on board a Long March 2F carrier rocket. Soon after, it deployed six mystery objects into orbit and they seemed to be emitting various signals. In May, it released an object which has never been identified. Also Read: China’s secret spaceplane ejects mysterious object into Earth’s orbit Its inaugural mission happened in 2021, and it was in orbit for only two days. The second time it was in orbit was August 2022 when it spent 276 days in space. × The United States also has a similar spaceplane, the Boeing X-37. It is being developed by the Space Force. It has already undertaken many more missions, and in December 2023 it went to space for its seventh mission which is still ongoing. It also holds the record for the longest-duration mission, spending 908 days in space on its sixth flight.

China's secret spaceplane is back after 268 days and placing secret objects in orbit

<p>A mysterious object was released into the Earth's orbit by China’s top-secret spaceplane nearly 372 miles above the surface.</p>

<p>The situation is being monitored by the US Space Force, however, the reason why the mysterious object was ejected on May 24 remains unknown.</p>

<p>The mysterious object was first spotted by a Harvard astrophysicist who speculated that it could be a subsatellite deployment or perhaps a piece of hardware which was released by the spaceplane before its mission ended and it deorbited.</p>

<p>Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics' Jonathan McDowell, after first spotting the object, wrote on X, "This object could be a subsatellite deployment, or it could be a piece of hardware ejected prior to end of the mission and deorbit (the spaceplane's first flight did something similar)."</p>

<p>The spacecraft, which was named Shenlong after a Chinese mythological spirit dragon, was launched last December and since then, it has released several objects into orbit. This action of the Chinese spaceplane has sent strong signals to the United States.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-says-hello-to-chat-xi-pt-ai-chatbot-trained-on-xi-jinpings-thoughts-725811">China says hello to 'Chat Xi PT', AI chatbot trained on Xi Jinping's thoughts</a></p>

<p>China has remained secretive regarding the spaceplane which it said has the job of providing "technical support for the peaceful use of space."</p>

<p>“After operating in orbit for a period of time, the experimental spacecraft will return to the designated landing site in China,” stated China’s state media outlet Xinhuanet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“During this period, it will carry out reusable technology verification and space science experiments as planned, providing technical support for the peaceful use of space," it added.</p>

<p>China launched the craft one day after the United States scrubbed the flight of its ‘spy’ plane. The US Space Force chief said that this was 'no coincidence.'</p>

<p>"It's probably no coincidence that they're trying to match us in timing and sequence of this," said General Chance Saltzman, Space Force's Chief of Space Operations.</p>

<h2><strong>US Space Force tracks down mysterious object</strong></h2>

<p>Currently, the mysterious object is being tracked down by the United States Space Force.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, amateur astronomer Scott Tilley, who was tracking the spaceplane when the six objects were ejected in December and signals were emitted over North America, said the signals most probably targeted a ground station or boat which was close to British Columbia, Canada.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;China hosts Arab leaders | North Korea drops trash balloons on the South</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-hosts-arab-leaders-north-korea-drops-trash-balloons-on-the-south-726660/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>"When the spaceplane passes over me, it only emits on a certain trajectory of pass that appears to favor a location south to southwest of me," Tilley said.</p>

<p>"I.e., on higher elevation passes over me, there are no signals, but on ocean-hugging passes to my southwest, all of my observations of the object have occurred," he added.</p>

<p>Tilley joined a group in Switzerland that specialises in optical-band space surveillance and the collaboration has been able to monitor the plane since it launched on December 15.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A mysterious object was released into the Earth's orbit by China’s top-secret spaceplane nearly 372 miles above the surface. The situation is being monitored by the US Space Force, however, the reason why the mysterious object was ejected on May 24 remains unknown.

A mysterious object was released into the Earth's orbit by China’s top-secret spaceplane nearly 372 miles above the surface. The situation is being monitored by the US Space Force, however, the reason why the mysterious object was ejected on May 24 remains unknown. The mysterious object was first spotted by a Harvard astrophysicist who speculated that it could be a subsatellite deployment or perhaps a piece of hardware which was released by the spaceplane before its mission ended and it deorbited. Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics' Jonathan McDowell, after first spotting the object, wrote on X, "This object could be a subsatellite deployment, or it could be a piece of hardware ejected prior to end of the mission and deorbit (the spaceplane's first flight did something similar)." The spacecraft, which was named Shenlong after a Chinese mythological spirit dragon, was launched last December and since then, it has released several objects into orbit. This action of the Chinese spaceplane has sent strong signals to the United States. Also Read: China says hello to 'Chat Xi PT', AI chatbot trained on Xi Jinping's thoughts China has remained secretive regarding the spaceplane which it said has the job of providing "technical support for the peaceful use of space." “After operating in orbit for a period of time, the experimental spacecraft will return to the designated landing site in China,” stated China’s state media outlet Xinhuanet. “During this period, it will carry out reusable technology verification and space science experiments as planned, providing technical support for the peaceful use of space," it added. China launched the craft one day after the United States scrubbed the flight of its ‘spy’ plane. The US Space Force chief said that this was 'no coincidence.' "It's probably no coincidence that they're trying to match us in timing and sequence of this," said General Chance Saltzman, Space Force's Chief of Space Operations. US Space Force tracks down mysterious object Currently, the mysterious object is being tracked down by the United States Space Force. Meanwhile, amateur astronomer Scott Tilley, who was tracking the spaceplane when the six objects were ejected in December and signals were emitted over North America, said the signals most probably targeted a ground station or boat which was close to British Columbia, Canada. Watch: China hosts Arab leaders | North Korea drops trash balloons on the South "When the spaceplane passes over me, it only emits on a certain trajectory of pass that appears to favor a location south to southwest of me," Tilley said. "I.e., on higher elevation passes over me, there are no signals, but on ocean-hugging passes to my southwest, all of my observations of the object have occurred," he added. Tilley joined a group in Switzerland that specialises in optical-band space surveillance and the collaboration has been able to monitor the plane since it launched on December 15. (With inputs from agencies)

China’s secret spaceplane ejects mysterious object into Earth’s orbit. US hunts it down

<p>At 7:10 am (Indian Standard Time) on Friday (March 22), the Indian Space Agency, ISRO and the Indian Air Force accomplished the second successful runway landing&nbsp;of the country's fully autonomous spaceplane. This is a vehicle that India eventually intends to develop and use to ferry small cargo (satellites and experiments) to space.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The average fighter jet comes in to land at 200-250kmph, which is 80m/sec...India's fully-autonomous spaceplane 'Pushpak'👇here is acing a perfect landing, while coming in at approx 360kmph or 100m/sec..<br />
Let that sink in!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/isro?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#isro</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/india?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#india</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#space</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/science?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#science</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tech?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tech</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RLV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RLV</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pushpak?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pushpak</a> <a href="https://t.co/8q9dnxnjIo">pic.twitter.com/8q9dnxnjIo</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1771024357852352583?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>Known as a Re-usable Launch Vehicle Technology Demonstrator(RLV-TD) or 'Pushpak', the spaceplane is a sophisticated aerospace vehicle with civilian and strategic applications. It must be noted that only the US and China are known to operate autonomous spaceplanes, and in the coming years, as ISRO makes further progress on 'Pushpak', India will be the third nation in this list. Dr S Somanath, Chairman, ISRO, congratulated the team for the flawless execution of the complex mission, designated at RLV LEX-02 or Landing Experiment-02.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><b>What the latest RLV LEX-02 test is all about</b></h2>

<p>In the latest test, the 1.6-tonne spaceplane was underslung to an Indian Air Force Chinook heavy-lift helicopter, which carried the spaceplane to an altitude of 4.5 km and released it four&nbsp;km away from the runway. The plane was dropped in a position that was misaligned with the runway at a sideways distance of 150 metres. In the maiden landing test in April 2023, the plane was at the same distance and altitude away from the runway, but it was aligned straight to the runway, without a sideways distance from the runway.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-isro-successfully-completes-landing-of-pushpak-countrys-first-reusable-launch-vehicle-702988">Watch: ISRO successfully completes landing of 'Pushpak', country's first Reusable Launch Vehicle</a></p>

<p>On being released, the plane is meant to carry out all gliding and related manoeuvres fully autonomously, based on the real-time calculations of its onboard sensors and computers. According to ISRO, the RLV was made to undertake more difficult manoeuvres, when compared to the earlier landing attempt in April 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Explaining the sophistication and significance of this feat, Dr Unnikrishnan Nair, Director of ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, told WION that the goal of the latest test was to ensure that the spaceplane could manoeuvre itself to perfectly align with the runway and make the landing. Citing the picture of the 'Pushpak' vehicle that stood in line with the runway's centreline, he added that it was a testimony to the perfect landing that the plane had performed. Dr. Nair mentioned that each of the RLV landing tests is meant to demonstrate how the vehicle performs in different stages of its actual flight.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What a stunning image - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/isro?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#isro</a> spaceplane stands in-line with the runway Centreline, after acing an autonomous landing, flying in at ~360kmph or 100m/sec<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/india?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#india</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#space</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/science?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#science</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tech?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tech</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Engineering?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Engineering</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RLV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RLV</a> <a href="https://t.co/hi65r6LMTl">pic.twitter.com/hi65r6LMTl</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1771037914585256079?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>Speaking about the spaceplane's design, he said that it was meant for operating in various conditions - sub-sonic, supersonic, hypersonic. Therefore, he emphasised the importance of testing it under various conditions and speed regimes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the year 2016, the RLV-TD vehicle had successfully been carried to 65 km altitude by a rocket. From there, the vehicle re-entered the denser parts of the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds, almost five times the speed of sound and finally made a splashdown landing in the Bay of Bengal (simulated runway).</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;ISRO's LVM3 rocket engines tested and ready to ferry Gaganyaan astronauts</strong></p>

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<p>When compared to the landing mission done in April 2023, ISRO has enhanced the airframe structure (overall body) and the landing gear of the spaceplane, thereby equipping it to tolerate the higher loads of landing at speeds as high as 360kmph (around 100metres/second). It must be noted that fighter jets land at speeds ranging from 200-250kmph. ISRO said that the winged body and all flight systems used in RLV-LEX-01(April 2023) were re-used in the RLV-LEX-02 mission after due certification and clearances. Hence, the reuse capability of flight hardware and flight systems is also demonstrated in this mission.</p>

<p>ISRO said that the RLV team was guided by P. Sunil, Programme Director, Advanced Technology and Systems Programme, VSSC. J. Muthupandian, Project Director, RLV, served as the Mission Director and B Karthik, Deputy Project Director, RLV, was the vehicle director for this mission.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><b>The final configuration of the RLV</b></h2>

<p>In its present form, this RLV-TD vehicle is meant for demonstration purposes and the real vehicle would be about 1.6 times larger. Once fully ready, the operational version of the RLV or 'Pushpak' is meant to be mounted atop a modified GSLV rocket and then launched into space, where the spaceplane would be autonomously carrying out on-board experiments and operating its payloads.</p>

<p>The spaceplane could function in Low Earth orbit for up to a month and then autonomously perform de-orbiting, re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and come in to land on the runway. This ensures that the spaceplane can be fully re-used after carrying out a few refurbishments. In many ways, the RLV is similar to the space shuttle operated by the US and the Soviet-era Buran spaceplane. However, the RLV is much smaller and not a crewed plane, unlike the Space Shuttle and the Buran. RLV is comparable to the American Boeing X-37B spaceplane and the Chinese 'Shenlong' (Divine dragon), which have been performing unmanned missions for many years.</p>


At 7:10 am (Indian Standard Time) on Friday (March 22), the Indian Space Agency, ISRO and the Indian Air Force accomplished the second successful runway landing of the country's fully autonomous spaceplane.

At 7:10 am (Indian Standard Time) on Friday (March 22), the Indian Space Agency, ISRO and the Indian Air Force accomplished the second successful runway landing of the country's fully autonomous spaceplane. This is a vehicle that India eventually intends to develop and use to ferry small cargo (satellites and experiments) to space. The average fighter jet comes in to land at 200-250kmph, which is 80m/sec...India's fully-autonomous spaceplane 'Pushpak'👇here is acing a perfect landing, while coming in at approx 360kmph or 100m/sec.. Let that sink in!#isro #india #space #science #tech #RLV #Pushpak pic.twitter.com/8q9dnxnjIo — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) March 22, 2024 × Known as a Re-usable Launch Vehicle Technology Demonstrator(RLV-TD) or 'Pushpak', the spaceplane is a sophisticated aerospace vehicle with civilian and strategic applications. It must be noted that only the US and China are known to operate autonomous spaceplanes, and in the coming years, as ISRO makes further progress on 'Pushpak', India will be the third nation in this list. Dr S Somanath, Chairman, ISRO, congratulated the team for the flawless execution of the complex mission, designated at RLV LEX-02 or Landing Experiment-02. What the latest RLV LEX-02 test is all about In the latest test, the 1.6-tonne spaceplane was underslung to an Indian Air Force Chinook heavy-lift helicopter, which carried the spaceplane to an altitude of 4.5 km and released it four km away from the runway. The plane was dropped in a position that was misaligned with the runway at a sideways distance of 150 metres. In the maiden landing test in April 2023, the plane was at the same distance and altitude away from the runway, but it was aligned straight to the runway, without a sideways distance from the runway. Also Read: Watch: ISRO successfully completes landing of 'Pushpak', country's first Reusable Launch Vehicle On being released, the plane is meant to carry out all gliding and related manoeuvres fully autonomously, based on the real-time calculations of its onboard sensors and computers. According to ISRO, the RLV was made to undertake more difficult manoeuvres, when compared to the earlier landing attempt in April 2023. Explaining the sophistication and significance of this feat, Dr Unnikrishnan Nair, Director of ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, told WION that the goal of the latest test was to ensure that the spaceplane could manoeuvre itself to perfectly align with the runway and make the landing. Citing the picture of the 'Pushpak' vehicle that stood in line with the runway's centreline, he added that it was a testimony to the perfect landing that the plane had performed. Dr. Nair mentioned that each of the RLV landing tests is meant to demonstrate how the vehicle performs in different stages of its actual flight. What a stunning image - #isro spaceplane stands in-line with the runway Centreline, after acing an autonomous landing, flying in at ~360kmph or 100m/sec#india #space #science #tech #Engineering #RLV pic.twitter.com/hi65r6LMTl — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) March 22, 2024 × Speaking about the spaceplane's design, he said that it was meant for operating in various conditions - sub-sonic, supersonic, hypersonic. Therefore, he emphasised the importance of testing it under various conditions and speed regimes. In the year 2016, the RLV-TD vehicle had successfully been carried to 65 km altitude by a rocket. From there, the vehicle re-entered the denser parts of the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds, almost five times the speed of sound and finally made a splashdown landing in the Bay of Bengal (simulated runway). Watch: ISRO's LVM3 rocket engines tested and ready to ferry Gaganyaan astronauts When compared to the landing mission done in April 2023, ISRO has enhanced the airframe structure (overall body) and the landing gear of the spaceplane, thereby equipping it to tolerate the higher loads of landing at speeds as high as 360kmph (around 100metres/second). It must be noted that fighter jets land at speeds ranging from 200-250kmph. ISRO said that the winged body and all flight systems used in RLV-LEX-01(April 2023) were re-used in the RLV-LEX-02 mission after due certification and clearances. Hence, the reuse capability of flight hardware and flight systems is also demonstrated in this mission. ISRO said that the RLV team was guided by P. Sunil, Programme Director, Advanced Technology and Systems Programme, VSSC. J. Muthupandian, Project Director, RLV, served as the Mission Director and B Karthik, Deputy Project Director, RLV, was the vehicle director for this mission. The final configuration of the RLV In its present form, this RLV-TD vehicle is meant for demonstration purposes and the real vehicle would be about 1.6 times larger. Once fully ready, the operational version of the RLV or 'Pushpak' is meant to be mounted atop a modified GSLV rocket and then launched into space, where the spaceplane would be autonomously carrying out on-board experiments and operating its payloads. The spaceplane could function in Low Earth orbit for up to a month and then autonomously perform de-orbiting, re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and come in to land on the runway. This ensures that the spaceplane can be fully re-used after carrying out a few refurbishments. In many ways, the RLV is similar to the space shuttle operated by the US and the Soviet-era Buran spaceplane. However, the RLV is much smaller and not a crewed plane, unlike the Space Shuttle and the Buran. RLV is comparable to the American Boeing X-37B spaceplane and the Chinese 'Shenlong' (Divine dragon), which have been performing unmanned missions for many years.

ISRO's autonomous spaceplane 'Pushpak' lands at 360 kmph, way more quicker than fighter jets

spaceplane

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