RLV Technology Demonstration Programme
Reusable Launch Vehicle–Technology Demonstration Programme is a series of technology demonstration missions that has been conceived by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as a first step towards realising a Two Stage To Orbit (TSTO) re-usable launch vehicle, in which the second stage is a spaceplane.
Technology Development Vehicle (TDV) for RLV Programme | |
| Program overview | |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| Organization | ISRO |
| Programme history | |
| Duration | 2016–present |
| First flight | 01:30 UTC, 23 May 2016 |
| Successes | 2 |
| Launch site(s) | |
| Vehicle information | |
| Launch vehicle(s) | RLV-TD |
For this purpose, a winged reusable launch vehicle technology demonstrator (RLV-TD) has been configured. The RLV-TD acted as a flying test bed to evaluate various technologies like powered cruise flight, hypersonic flight, and autonomous landing using air-breathing propulsion. Application of these technologies would bring down the launch cost by a factor of 10. This project has no connection with the Avatar spaceplane concept by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation.