29 March 2025 : Daily Answer Writing

Q1) What are the principles behind the working of Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV)? Explain the significance and potential benefits of use of RLVs in India’s space commerce. (10 marks, 150 words)

ANSWER

• A reusable launch vehicle(RLV) is a launch system that allows for the reuse of some or all of the component stages, wherein the vehicle returns to earth intact after a mission.
  Traditional expendable launch vehicles (ELVs) are used once and then discarded, leading to high costs per mission. 
• In this context, Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLVs) represent a transformative innovation, offering the potential to drastically reduce the cost of accessing space.

PRINCIPLES BEHIND WORKING OF RLV:

1. Autonomous Operations: RLVs incorporate advanced navigation, guidance, and control systems that enable autonomous operations. This includes precise maneuvering, landing, and recovery processes, reducing dependency on ground control and enabling quicker turnaround times between missions.
2. Technological Integration: RLVs integrate technologies from both aerospace and aviation domains. They are designed to withstand the rigors of space launch and re-entry, akin to spacecraft, while leveraging aerodynamic principles and flight control systems akin to aircraft.
3. Cost Efficiency: By reusing major components, the overall cost per launch can be significantly lowered compared to expendable rockets, where each launch involves the destruction of the launch vehicle.

HOW RLV WORKS: STAGES

1. Launch and Payload Delivery: The RLV carries its payload from the surface to outer space, often in multiple stages. Rocket stages or the entire spacecraft are designed to be reused. During launch, stages may separate at various points to deliver the payload into orbit.
2. Stage Separation and Return: For multi-staged rockets, each stage performs its designated function and then separates. Reusable stages are equipped with additional systems to facilitate their safe return to Earth.
3. Reentry and Descent: Reusable parts reenter the Earth’s atmosphere, requiring protection from intense heat and aerodynamic forces. They are often equipped with heat shields, grid fins, and other flight control surfaces to resist the damage caused by high reentry speed (sometimes upto Mach 5).
4. Landing: Different landing techniques are used depending on the design:
5. Parachutes and Airbags: Capsules or stages may use parachutes to slow their descent and airbags to cushion the landing. Parachutes are used as a decelerator in the re-entry, descent, and landing of space recovery payloads, providing stability and desired descent rate for a safe landing.
6. Horizontal Landing: Spaceplanes like the Space Shuttle orbiter use wings and undercarriage to land on a runway.
7. Vertical Landing: Rockets like SpaceX’s Falcon 9 use retro rockets to perform a controlled, upright landing on a designated platform.
8. Refurbishment and Reuse: After landing, reusable stages and spacecraft undergo refurbishment to prepare them for the next launch. This process involves inspection, maintenance, and possible refurbishment of worn-out components. The refurbishment process aims to ensure the vehicle meets safety and performance standards for subsequent missions.

SIGNIFICANCE AND POTENTIAL BENEFITS IN INDIAN SPACE COMMERCE:

1. Cost Reduction: RLVs have the potential to reduce launch costs by a significant margin, estimated at around 80% or more compared to expendable launch systems. This cost reduction is crucial for making space missions more accessible and economically viable, especially for commercial satellite launches and other space-based services.
2. Commercial Viability: Lower launch costs open up opportunities for Indian space commerce to expand. It enables more frequent and affordable access to space for satellite deployment, Earth observation missions, telecommunications, and scientific research, fostering growth in the space industry.
3. Technology Leadership: Developing RLV technology positions India as a leader in space technology innovation. It demonstrates capability in advanced aerospace engineering, autonomous systems, and materials science, enhancing national prestige and attracting international partnerships.
4. Strategic Independence: By mastering RLV technology, India reduces dependency on foreign launch services for satellite deployment, enhancing strategic independence in space missions and ensuring reliable access to space assets.
5. Environmental Impact: Reusable launch vehicles also have potential environmental benefits compared to expendable rockets, as they reduce the amount of space debris generated per launch and minimize environmental footprint associated with rocket manufacturing, thereby reducing the Kessler syndrome (Earth’s orbit dominated by space debris).
6. Boost to ISRO’s Capabilities: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) stands to benefit significantly from RLV technology. The integration of advanced navigation, guidance, and control systems developed for RLVs can enhance the performance of other operational launch vehicles. This makes ISRO’s missions more cost-effective and reliable, further strengthening India’s position in the global space sector.

CHALLENGES OF RLV:

1. Extra weight: Reusable stages weigh more than equivalent expendable stages. This is unavoidable due to the supplementary systems, landing gear and/or surplus propellant needed to land a stage.
2. Refurbishment: After the launcher lands, it may need to be refurbished to prepare it for its next flight. This process may be lengthy and expensive. The launcher may not be able to be recertified as human-rated after refurbishment.

For India, this technology holds immense potential to drive economic growth, technological advancement, and strategic capabilities in the evolving space commerce landscape. 

As ISRO continues to advance its RLV-Technology Demonstration programme, the prospects for India’s space commerce look exceedingly bright. Through sustained innovation and strategic investments, RLVs can propel India to new heights in space exploration and commerce, heralding a new era of space endeavors characterized by affordability, sustainability, and technological excellence.

Read More – 28 March 2025 : Daily Answer Writing