Which of the following statements correctly describe the RLV-LEX-02 landing experiment conducted by ISRO?
1. The Pushpak vehicle was released from 4.5 km altitude at 4 km distance from the runway and performed cross-range corrections before landing.
2. The winged body and flight systems from RLV-LEX-01 were reused in RLV-LEX-02 without any structural strengthening.
3. The mission validated indigenous technologies like navigation, control, and landing gear systems required for autonomous space-return landings.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Answer: Only Statements 1 and 3 are correct.
Explanation:
ISRO successfully conducted the RLV-LEX-02 (Reusable Launch Vehicle Landing Experiment) in March 2024 at Chitradurga, Karnataka.
Statement 1 is correct: The vehicle, named 'Pushpak', was released from an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter at an altitude of 4.5 km and executed an autonomous landing on the runway.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Compared to RLV-LEX-01, structural reinforcements were incorporated into LEX-02 to enable it to withstand more challenging conditions. It was not utilized merely 'without any changes'.
Statement 3 is correct: This mission successfully validated the indigenous navigation (NavIC), guidance, and gear systems required for a vehicle returning from space.
Additional Points:
Pushpak: This is the name of ISRO's Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV).
Significance: This technology will significantly reduce the cost of India's future space missions, as rocket components can be reused multiple times.
Potential Exam Questions:
Question: What is the name of ISRO's Reusable Launch Vehicle?
Answer: Pushpak.
Question: Where was the RLV-LEX experiment conducted?
Answer: Chitradurga, Karnataka.