Today, India successfully tested its very own space shuttle, the Re-usable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) at 7 AM, at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. Here’re 5 things about the big launch that you need to know.
1. 5 Years and 600 Scientists
The RLV-TD is 6.5 metre in length and weighs 1.75 tonnes and costs Rs. 95 crore. The space shuttle was built at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram by over 600 scientists over 5 years.
2. Reduce Cost by 10 Times
Sending objects to space is a pretty expensive matter and at present costs around $20,000 for each kilogram. With this re-usable technology it aims to reduce the cost by over 10 times.
3. The Final Version Six Times Larger
Two more tests are in the pipeline and the final version will approximately 40 metres and will take off in 2030.
4. The proud moment for Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Once the test flight was declared successful, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted “Launch of India’s first indigenous space shuttle RLV-TD is the result of the industrious efforts of our scientists. Congrats to them”.
5. No Other Country Is Doing It
India has taken a big step in operating a winged spacecraft into space. No other country is doing it currently, with US retiring its space shuttles in 2011 and Russians back in 1989.
We are proud of India
Author: Susmita Roy
Featured Image Source
