Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on May 23 launched India’s first-ever indigenous space shuttle RLV-TD successfully from Sriharikota. The test flight lasted for 770 seconds, reached the maximum altitude of 65 kilometers and covered a distance of 450 kilometers (280 mi) from Sriharikota,Andhra Pradesh to land (ditch) at a designated spot in the Bay of Bengal. Not designed to float, the vehicle disintegrated on impact with the water and was not recovered.The RLV-TD Program was launched to bring down the cost of launching satellites into space .
The Technology Demonstration program was started back in 2006. Nearly 95 crores were invested in this program by the government. The Technology Demonstration Program consists of the development of hypersonic rocket with air-breathing engines and the reusable launch vehicle. India is only the fifth nation in the world to have successfully built a space shuttle.
Congratulations to ISRO – Indian Space Research Organisation scientists & engineers on a successful launch of India’s first indigenous space shuttle RVL-TD. Proud to be an Indian.
