ISRO achieved a significant milestone in space technology today with the successful orbital test flight and landing of its next-generation Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV-TD2), marking India's entry into the elite club of nations with reusable rocket technology.
The vehicle launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 6:15 AM IST, reached an altitude of 120 kilometers, and performed a controlled re-entry and autonomous runway landing — all within 45 minutes of launch.
"This is a transformative achievement for Indian space technology," said ISRO Chairman Dr. S. Somanath. "Reusable launch vehicles will reduce the cost of putting payloads into orbit by up to 80%."
The successful test positions India to compete with SpaceX and Blue Origin in the growing commercial launch market. ISRO plans to conduct a full orbital mission with the RLV by early 2027.
