ISRO Is Developing A Reusable Rocket To Surpass SpaceX's Falcon 9

Dhir Acharya - Jan 02, 2019


ISRO Is Developing A Reusable Rocket To Surpass SpaceX's Falcon 9

The Times of India reported that the Indian space agency is working on a new reusable rocket with new technologies and tests on the way.

The Indian Space Research Organization, a low-profile space agency, suddenly got the world’s attention when its Mangalyaan Mars mission succeeded. The agency, since then, has gained more and more popular with its record 104 satellites launched, its Crew Module tested on the GSLV Mk III, its Reusable Launch Vehicle tested as well as its recent crewed space mission – the Gaganyaan.

Kết quả hình ảnh cho gaganyaan

The recently announced Gaganyaan, set to be launched in 2022, has proved how fast India is developing in the space field. In this mission, ISRO has partnered with other domestic space agency to develop technologies to bring humans to the outer space. The Gaganyaan is not only one of the first human-crewed missions of the world but also cheap, at the cost of Rs 10,000 core only.

Now, the Indian space agency continues its work to create something competing with SpaceX’s reusable rocket – the Falcon 9. The Times of India reported that ISRO has shifted its resources to reusable missiles with the aim to lower launch costs even more.

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ISRO has plans to test technologies for Vertical Take Off and Vertical Landing (VTVL) with a test vehicle – ADMIRE. Dr. B N Suresh, a scientist at ISRO, stated that they will prove several technologies like retro-propulsion, retractable legs, and steerable fins with the ADMIRE. These technologies will accordingly aid the rocket to land back vertically near the launch pad.

Plus, ISRO will make use of other outstanding techs such as NAVIC navigation receiver for the rocket to land at the needed spot precisely. According to Dr. Suresh, the space agency is also developing a landing site and a test for this reusable rocket.

ADMIRE, however, is not ISRO’s first reusable technology project. Last year, the agency already tested the RLV, which was designed for vertical launch and landing like an airplane after releasing its payload in the expected orbit. ISRO is likely to test the RLV with the craft dropped from a plane to see how it well it can land.

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