Sunday, February 9, 2025
News

India’s Pushpak Rocket- bold steps in space exploration

Thiruvananthapuram: A cutting-edge, SUV-sized winged rocket is poised for its experimental flight at a defense airfield in Karnataka. Scheduled for launch at 7 am today from the Chalakere Runway, the rocket named “Pushpak” represents India’s ambitious foray into the realm of reusable launch vehicles (RLVs), often dubbed the “swadeshi space shuttle”.

The ongoing experiment marks the third flight of Pushpak, focusing on testing its robotic landing capabilities under more complex conditions. “The Pushpak launch vehicle symbolizes India’s determined endeavor to democratize access to space,” emphasized S Somanath, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). “It epitomizes our nation’s futuristic vision for reusable launch vehicles, with a primary objective of reusing the upper stage, housing costly electronics, to ensure safe return to Earth. In the future, it could potentially engage in tasks such as in-orbit satellite refueling and satellite retrieval for refurbishment, aligning with India’s commitment to minimize space debris,” he elaborated.

A decade in the making, Pushpak first took flight from Sriharikota in 2016, successfully landing on a virtual runway in the Bay of Bengal. However, the vehicle was not recovered as planned, sinking into the sea.

The second test, conducted on April 2, 2023, at the Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range, saw the RLV-LEX, as it was called, undergo a flawless autonomous landing after being lifted into the air by an Indian Air Force Chinook Helicopter.

Explaining the significance of the name, Mr. Somanath highlighted that “Pushpak Viman” derives from India’s ancient epic, the Ramayan, representing the legendary spaceship of the Lord of Wealth, God Kuber. He noted the symbolism of naming India’s ambitious 21st-century rocket after Pushpak, envisioning its potential as a commercially viable launcher in the future.

“Pushpak embodies the future,” affirmed Mr. Sunil P, Program Director of the Advanced Technology & Systems Group at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center. “ISRO’s objective is to deploy a vehicle that not only reduces costs significantly but also provides accessible means to space,” he emphasized.

India’s pursuit of its version of the space shuttle began over 15 years ago, with a dedicated team of engineers and scientists committing to realizing the RLV project a decade ago.

The 6.5-meter aeroplane-like spacecraft, weighing 1.75 tons, will be transported aboard an IAF helicopter. Equipped with small thrusters for navigation during descent, resembling a glider-like maneuver, Pushpak aims for pinpoint accuracy in landing.

The government’s investment of over ₹100 crore in the project marks a significant milestone as India progresses toward establishing its own space station, the Bhartiya Antariksha Station, slated for completion by 2035.

Leave a Reply