For the very first time in its history, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is actually growing wings as it embarks this month on a never before space flight that would make history.
The Indian space agency is all set to undertake the maiden launch of its very own indigenous version of a “space shuttle”, a fully made-in-India effort.
On Sunday, a sleek winged body almost the weight and size of a sports utility vehicle (SUV) was given the final touches at Sriharikota awaiting the final countdown.
The big powers abandoned the idea of a winged reusable launch vehicle, but India’s frugal engineers believe the solution to reducing cost of launching satellites into orbit is to recycle the rocket or make it reusable. Scientists at Isro believe that they could reduce the cost of launching by as much as 10 times if reusable technology succeeds, bringing it down to USD 2,000 per kg.
Very soon and if all goes, well possibly before the monsoon sets in, India’s space port at Sriharikota on the coast of the Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh will witness the launch of the indigenously made reusable launch vehicle-technology demonstrator (RLV-TD). This will be the first time Isro will launch a space craft, which actually has delta wings and after the launch it will be glided back onto a virtual runway in the Bay of Bengal.
The RLV-TD is unlikely to be recovered from sea during this experiment as it is expected that the vehicle will disintegrate on impact with water since it is not designed to float.
Afghanistan says no to project
After Pakistan, which pulled out of India-mooted South Asian Satellite Project, Afghanistan too has shown no interest in the venture, PTI reports from New Delhi.
Sources said Afghanistan has tied up with an European company for its space-related needs