ISRO To Test Reusable Satellite Launch Vehicles In Sept This Year
Satellite launches are expensive affair for space research organisations and governments that back them. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) wants to attempt lowering the cost of these launches by building a reusable launch vehicle so that every time a new satellite needs to be blasted off Earth, a new launch vehicle need not be constructed. Headed by A.S. Kiran Kumar, the present ISRO chairman, the new project by ISRO aims at flying a plane in the outer space at the pace as fast as 5x the speed of sound, deliver the payload it is carrying (such as a satellite) and return to Earth like other aircrafts. In a recent news, ISRO disclosed that though the project is in initial stages of development, the scientists will be able to test the first re-usable satellite launch vehicle in September this year itself.
The present technology makes the launch vehicle fall off part by part in succession during the satellite launch and therefore it can't be reused. As of now, wind tunnel modelling and other tests had been completed. For testing purpose, the launch vehicle will be made to land in ocean and when they are confident about its working, the ultimate aim is to make it land on an air strip in Sriharikota, the place where ISRO headquarters is located.
The interesting part is that ISRO researchers claim that using a reusable launch vehicle will lower the costs of future satellite launches by 1/10th the present cost.
In another interesting news, Mr. Jitendra Singh, the Minister of State for Department of Space in Govt. of India, launched a new augmented reality app called 'Sakaar' on Google Play Store. The AR application shows the live camera view on your device to represent the physical world. Virtual objects are then superimposed on the live camera view, to be tightly coupled in on your device's screen.The virtual objects can consist of 3D models, videos and anaglyph images.
Using the Sakaar app, users can watch the 3D models of various projects happening live at ISRO. These projects will include satellite launches, MARS missions etc. The Government will be working on distribution of the app for free in schools so that future scientists of India can keep themselves up-to-date with the ISRO projects.
It's great to note all the constructive steps Indian scientists and engineers at ISRO are taking to strengthen the efforts for space exploration.
What are your thoughts about the reusable satellite launch vehicles? Share with us in comments below.
The present technology makes the launch vehicle fall off part by part in succession during the satellite launch and therefore it can't be reused. As of now, wind tunnel modelling and other tests had been completed. For testing purpose, the launch vehicle will be made to land in ocean and when they are confident about its working, the ultimate aim is to make it land on an air strip in Sriharikota, the place where ISRO headquarters is located.
The interesting part is that ISRO researchers claim that using a reusable launch vehicle will lower the costs of future satellite launches by 1/10th the present cost.
In another interesting news, Mr. Jitendra Singh, the Minister of State for Department of Space in Govt. of India, launched a new augmented reality app called 'Sakaar' on Google Play Store. The AR application shows the live camera view on your device to represent the physical world. Virtual objects are then superimposed on the live camera view, to be tightly coupled in on your device's screen.The virtual objects can consist of 3D models, videos and anaglyph images.
Using the Sakaar app, users can watch the 3D models of various projects happening live at ISRO. These projects will include satellite launches, MARS missions etc. The Government will be working on distribution of the app for free in schools so that future scientists of India can keep themselves up-to-date with the ISRO projects.
It's great to note all the constructive steps Indian scientists and engineers at ISRO are taking to strengthen the efforts for space exploration.
What are your thoughts about the reusable satellite launch vehicles? Share with us in comments below.
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