India is also planning a reusable launch vehicle demonstrator: Govt. nod for ISRO'S RLV technology demonstrator

Giving a boost to the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) ambitious programme to idigenously develop Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLV), the Centre recently gave clearance for a technology demonstrator, ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair said.

...Mr Nair said the detailed design work for the technology demonstrator had already started.
The RLV technology demonstrator, expected to be ready within three to four years, would be the first step for ISRO to ultimately build its own RLVs, which could bring down the cost of launching satellites by as much as 60 per cent.
The Indian Space Research Organisation would have to work on a number of cutting edge technologies, including those related to hyper-sonic speeds and thermal protection, to perfect the technology demonstrator, Mr Nair said.

Having several botched U.S. RLV programs to learn from should make it somewhat easier, though, eh?

Posted by T.L. James on November 21, 2004 08:33 PM