Indian space agency ISRO is gearing up to give final touches to a re-usable space shuttle to be launched in July, riding high on its successful re-entry capsule experiment in December 2014.
“A small aeroplane-shaped vehicle would be launched from here (Sriharikota) sometime during the second half of July,” confirmed Satish Dhawan Space Centre director M Y S Prasad in a telephonic interview with IANS.
Weighing 1.5 tonne, the reusable launch vehicle – Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) will bring down the cost of individual launch vehicles every time, especially in placing lesser-weighing satellites. With this, the present cost of placing 1 kg satellite will come down from $5,000 to one-tenth of its cost to $500, according to a quick estimate.
ISRO All Set to Test Own Space Shuttle in July to Save Cost of Future Satellite Launches |
“A small aeroplane-shaped vehicle would be launched from here (Sriharikota) sometime during the second half of July,” confirmed Satish Dhawan Space Centre director M Y S Prasad in a telephonic interview with IANS.
Weighing 1.5 tonne, the reusable launch vehicle – Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) will bring down the cost of individual launch vehicles every time, especially in placing lesser-weighing satellites. With this, the present cost of placing 1 kg satellite will come down from $5,000 to one-tenth of its cost to $500, according to a quick estimate.
ISRO All Set to Test Own Space Shuttle in July to Save Cost of Future Satellite Launches |
