Science TechnologyWednesday, 27 May 2026·The Hindu
ISRO successfully tests reusable launch vehicle 'Pushpak'
Third autonomous landing experiment of India's reusable launch vehicle from Aeronautical Test Range, Karnataka.
Key highlights
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully completed the third Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Landing Experiment, codenamed Pushpak.
- Vehicle: RLV-TD (Technology Demonstrator) - winged spacecraft
- Mission name: RLV LEX-03 ("Pushpak")
- Location: Aeronautical Test Range, Chitradurga, Karnataka
- Achievement: Released from a helicopter at 4.5 km altitude; autonomous approach & precision landing on the runway.
- Significance: Step toward India developing a fully reusable orbital launch vehicle - drastically lowering cost of space access.
TNPSC angle: General Science - Space technology, ISRO milestones. Group 1, 2 & 4 GS paper.