Article Posted on : - Jun 01, 2015

An artistic illustration of the Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology Demonstrator. An ISRO image

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM (PTI): The test of Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology Demonstrator (RLVTD), one of ISRO's prestigious space programmes, is tentatively scheduled to be held between July and August this year, a top official has said.

"Preparations are now progressing to conduct the RLVTD launch either by the end of July or in the beginning of August," VSSC Director M Chandradathan, who retired from the post on May 29, told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.

He, however, said official information on the date from ISRO Chairman in this regard was yet to come.

It was a programme which ISRO started many years ago and during this year the programme reached its first final stage, he said.

As per the present plan, RLVTD would be launched after the launch of PSLV-C20-8 scheduled for July 10.

RLVTD would be launched from the first PSLV pad at Sriharikota in the one-month period between PSLV-C20-8 and next PSLV flight, he said.

"It will be an experimental space plane," he said, adding, the module will be like a small single-sitter aeroplane. "It will go up to 70 km altitude..."

"These tests are all part of ISRO's Human in space programme mission," he said, adding that the plan was to achieve this goal in a decade's time.