Space Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstration (RLV-TD) programme The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully carried out the landing experiment of the Reusable Launch Vehicle -Technology Demonstration (RLV-TD) programme at the Aeronautical Test Range in Challakere, Chitradurga. About RLV-TD: The RLV-TD is a winged space vehicle launched like a rocket and flies back down like a glider. It can fly at hypersonic speeds: speeds greater than 5 times the speed of sound (6174 km/hr). 600 heat-resistant tiles cover the RLV-TD on its underside, protecting it from the high temperatures encountered while re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere at hypersonic speeds. It is controlled like an airplane using control surfaces called elevons and rudder. The launch stack is made up of the RLV-TD vehicle and the rocket booster called HS9. The booster is meant to lift the vehicle into the upper atmosphere and accelerate it to hypersonic test speeds. RLV – TD Mission programme The RLV-TD mission consists of 4 major steps before the development of the final Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV). Hypersonic Flight Experiment (HEX) – it was conducted in May 2016. Landing Experiment (LEX) – now done Return Flight Experiment (REX) Scramjet Propulsion Experiment (SPEX)
