Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV)

After Reading This Article You Can Solve This UPSC Mains Model Question:

Discuss the significance of RLV technology and evaluate India’s preparedness to operationalise reusable launch systems. 250 words (GS-3 Science and Technology)

What is a Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV)?

An RLV is a space-plane or rocket system designed to return to Earth substantially intact, allowing for multiple launches. Unlike traditional “expendable” rockets (like the older PSLV/GSLV models) that burn up or crash into the ocean after a single use, RLVs are the space equivalent of a commercial aircraft.

Significance of Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Technology

1. Economic: Slash “Cost-to-Orbit”

• Massive Cost Savings: Aims to reduce launch costs by nearly 80%, bringing the price down from ~$20,000/kg to approximately $2,000/kg.
• Protecting High-Value Assets: Reuses the most expensive components—engines and advanced avionics—which traditionally account for 60–70% of a rocket’s cost but are discarded in expendable models.

2. Strategic: Sovereignty and On-Demand Access

• Launch Frequency: Enables a faster “turnaround time” between missions, allowing India to launch satellites “on-demand” for national security or emergency communication.
• Global Competitiveness: Positions ISRO as a “Global Space Transporter,” attracting high-value commercial contracts by offering the most competitive pricing in the global $600 billion space economy.

3. Operational: Versatility in Space

• Beyond Launches: RLV technology is not just for putting satellites up; it enables retrieving old satellites for repair or in-orbit refueling, extending the life of India’s space assets.
• Support for Space Stations: Acts as the primary logistics vehicle for the upcoming Bhartiya Antariksh Station (BAS), ferrying cargo and potentially crew back and forth.

4. Environmental: Minimizing “Space Junk”

• Sustainable Space: Prevents rocket stages from becoming orbiting debris (Kessler Syndrome) by ensuring they return to Earth or burn up in a controlled manner.
• Reduced Manufacturing Footprint: Decreases the carbon and material footprint associated with manufacturing new rockets for every single mission.

5. Technological: Paving the Way for “Viksit Bharat @2047”

• Dual-Use Capabilities: The navigation (NGC) and thermal protection systems (TPS) developed for RLVs have direct applications in Hypersonic Missiles and advanced defense systems.
• Human Spaceflight: A reliable RLV is the safest and most efficient pathway for future long-term human missions to the Moon and Mars.

ISRO’s Roadmap: The “Pushpak” Journey

I. HEX (Hypersonic Flight Experiment) | 2016 – Status: Success

• Goal: Survived extreme heat during atmospheric re-entry.
  • Outcome: Validated autonomous navigation and Thermal Protection Systems (TPS).

II. LEX (Landing Experiment) | 2023–2024 – Status: Success

• Mission: Three consecutive tests (LEX-01, 02, 03) at Chitradurga.
  • Goal: Autonomous “high-speed” runway landing (350 kmph).
  • Outcome: Demonstrated “Pushpak’s” ability to land precisely under severe wind and error conditions.

III. OREX (Orbital Return Flight Experiment) | Planned 2026

• Goal: Return “Pushpak” to Earth from an actual orbital mission (higher speeds than HEX).
  • Context: Validating the integration of re-entry and runway landing in a single real-world mission.

IV. SPEX (Scramjet Propulsion Experiment) | Planned Post-2026

• Goal: Testing Air-Breathing Scramjet Engines.
  • Purpose: Using atmospheric oxygen during ascent to reduce onboard fuel weight, paving the way for a fully reusable Two-Stage-to-Orbit (TSTO) vehicle.

Global Initiatives

• SpaceX (USA): The global leader with Falcon 9 (partially reusable) and Starship (fully reusable). By Jan 2026, SpaceX has achieved “Mechazilla” catches of its Super Heavy boosters.
• Starship V3: By January 2026, SpaceX is testing the “Version 3” architecture, featuring Raptor 3 engines. Preparations are currently underway for Flight 12, with a focus on successful ship splashdowns and refining the “chopstick” catch system.
• Blue Origin (USA): New Glenn rocket, which successfully recovered its first booster in late 2025.
• China (CNSA): Developing the Long March 10 and Tianlong-3 (Space Pioneer), aiming for reusable orbital flights by 2027.
• ESA (Europe): The Themis prototype, a reusable rocket stage being tested for hop-flights.

Challenges for India’s RLV

• Re-entry Heating: The vehicle must survive friction-induced temperatures exceeding 1500°C during atmospheric re-entry. This necessitates heavy and expensive Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) like carbon-carbon composites or ceramic tiles.
• Structural Fatigue: Repeated exposure to the high-stress environment of launch and re-entry leads to “metal fatigue,” limiting the number of times a vehicle can safely fly before being decommissioned.
• Reduced Payload: To enable reusability, a rocket must carry extra fuel for landing maneuvers and heavy hardware like landing gear, grid fins, and heat shields.
• Trade-off: This additional “dead weight” significantly reduces the actual weight of the satellite (payload) the rocket can carry compared to an expendable version.
• Cost vs. Savings: If the cost of recovering, inspecting, and repairing a vehicle after it lands is too high, it negates the savings from not building a new rocket.
• Certification Issues: Recertifying a used engine for high-stakes missions (like human spaceflight or expensive national satellites) is a major regulatory and safety challenge.
• Autonomous Landing: Achieving a precise landing on a specific runway or sea-platform from orbital speeds requires hyper-accurate Navigation, Guidance, and Control (NGC) systems that can correct for unpredictable wind and atmospheric density in real-time.

Way Forward for RLV Technology

• Project “Soorya”: India must fast-track the development of the Next-Gen Launch Vehicle (NGLV), which is designed as a heavy-lift, partially reusable rocket.
• Payload Capacity: Aim to increase the LEO (Low Earth Orbit) payload capacity to 30 tonnes, ensuring India can compete with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 for global commercial launches.
• The “Weight” Solution: Successful integration of Scramjet propulsion (SPEX) is vital. By using atmospheric oxygen as an oxidizer during the ascent, India can significantly reduce the onboard oxidizer weight, allowing for a higher “Payload-to-Weight” ratio.
• Dedicated Spaceports: Development of the Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport (Tamil Nadu) will provide a direct southward launch trajectory, saving fuel and simplifying the recovery of reusable stages.
• Refurbishment Ecosystem: Building specialized “Cleanroom Hangars” and robot-assisted inspection systems to reduce the time between a landing and the next launch (Target: < 30 days).
• In-SPACe Empowerment: Shift ISRO’s role to R&D while transferring RLV technologies to the private sector (e.g., Skyroot, Agnikul) via IN-SPACe.
• Venture Capital (VC) Support: Utilize the recently announced ₹1,000 crore VC fund for space startups to innovate in “Low-cost Reusable Materials” and “Autonomous Landing Software.”
• Debris-Free Missions: Align RLV goals with India’s Debris-Free Space Missions (DFSM) 2030 initiative. RLVs should be the primary tool for satellite de-orbiting and space junk removal.

Conclusion

RLV technology marks India’s shift from frugal launches to sustainable space sovereignty. By slashing costs by 80%, it secures India’s lead in the $1 trillion space economy. Crucial for the Bhartiya Antariksh Station (2035), it ensures affordable, on-demand access while achieving Debris-Free Space Missions by 2030.