India's space agency is growing its own wings now that one of its indigenous spacecraft is set to blast off into space this May.
In what would be marked as the very first maiden launch of a made-in-India reusable shuttle, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is preparing to embark on a historic space flight. If it succeeds, the mission will make the country in line with the big leagues.
Leaping Into Space
On May 15, scientists were already in the process of giving the finishing touches for a test model of their spacecraft — a sleek winged body resembling a sports utility vehicle (SUV). This current test model is about six times smaller than the actual version of the space shuttle.
For its experimental test flight, the Reusable Launch Vehicle - Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) will be flown in order to check and evaluate the landing processes and technologies. Scientists will fly the 175-tonne reusable model to space and land it down to the Bay of Bengal.
During the first stage, solid fuel is expected to power the 6.5-meter (255.9-inch) long vehicle to reach about 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) into the atmosphere.
Then, the small spacecraft will descend. This descent will be monitored by radars, satellites, and ships, although the vehicle will not land on a runway. The RLV-TD will probably not be recovered from sea during the experiment. It will likely disintegrate on impact with water.
Indeed, the goal of the experiment is not to see if the craft will float, but to navigate and glide it from a velocity that is greater than the speed of sound.
Why ISRO's Big Leap Is Important
If ISRO's project delivers, India would be part of the very few countries all over the world with its own space shuttles.
The European Space Agency runs its own space shuttle programs.
The United States has private companies such as SpaceX, which has teamed up with NASA. SpaceX founder Elon Musk has already tested a reusable rocket in space.
ISRO believes it could reduce its launch costs by as much as 10 times if this reusable rocket technology succeeds, cutting down by at least $2,000 per kilogram. In fact, when it comes to funding, the space agency's track record is solid.
The space agency's Mars Orbiter was the cheapest Mars mission ever with just about $74 million in total expenditure. The mission also marked the first time a country reached the red planet in just the first attempt.
Meanwhile, the final version of India's space shuttle will be completed within 10 to 15 years.
K. Sivan, director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, says designing reusable space rockets is "no kid stuff," but he is optimistic.
"These are just the first baby steps towards the big Hanuman leap," adds Sivan.
