India to build re-usable launch vehicle after nailing third landing of mini-spaceplane

India's Space Research Organization has signalled its intention to build a reusable launch vehicle after a third test of an unpowered experimental precursor again nailed its landing. The precursor is called the RLV-LEX – the Reusable Launch Vehicle Landing EXperiment – and resembles NASA's retired space shuttle, Russia's Buran …

[Joe W]

Cool!

I love it when a (space)plane comes together...

[Diamandi Lucas]

Re: Cool!

I ain't getting on no (space)plane!

[LogicGate]

Re: Cool!

Gimme a ticket for a space-plane!

Ain't got time to take a fast train.

Lonely days are gone

-i'm-a going home

My baby she wrote me a letter!

[I ain't Spartacus]

Re: Cool!

I ain't getting on no (space)plane!

Diamandi Lucas,

Here, have this delicious glass of milk. It's very good for you. Full of vitamins.

[Fruit and Nutcase]

Yoga in Space

That yoga mat won't work in zero gravity, AI or no AI.

[Fruit and Nutcase]

Re: Yoga in Space

It may be possible, in years to come, with room temperature super conducting fabrics, to wear yoga pants made from such material, to assume certain positions which involve levitation!

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Yoga in Space

I suspect it will be equally as useful though, in practical terms. I mean "an AI-powered yoga mat" is purely marketing BS. I bet there's no actual AI in it anyway.

[Mitoo Bobsworth]

Yeah, Baby!

I don't know why, but 'space yoga' made me immediately think of Austin Powers.

[John Brown (no body)]

Re: Yeah, Baby!

For me, it was a mental image mash up of Yoda and Yogi Bear :-)

A pic-a-nic basket, is that?

[Anonymous Coward]

What's going on in the picture of the vehicle?

Is that a parachute being explosively deployed before the nose wheel touches down? I suppose you won't be steering the vehicle with the nose wheel until it's slowed down a lot, so the high angle of attack is being used in addition to the parachute to maximise aerodynamic braking....

[John Robson]

Re: What's going on in the picture of the vehicle?

They were also running smoke for the descent so it could be more easily monitored...

[nematoad]

...resembles NASA's retired space shuttle, Russia's Buran reusable vehicle, and the US Air Force's X-37B autonomous spaceplane.

Of course it does.

Remember, form follows function.

That's why hammers have always looked like hammers.

[Julz]

Well

They could have gone for a lifting body approach like the MIG-105 etc.

[Ken G]

ESA could have had Hermes 20 years ago.

Space Rider doesn't look as cool and is unmanned.

What I can't make out from the article is whether the Indian RLV is meant to be manned or cargo only.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: ESA could have had Hermes 20 years ago.

Also remember that for many years that the UK has given 'foreign aid' to India for basic sanitation needs.

Which country has an active, flying, space program and which does not?

It's all a mater of priorities and political will.

"Comment on recent advances, or not, are of course are embargoed [at all government and quasi-government bodies] at the moment given the run up to the election." I never understand this rule when politically motivated strike dates are allowed just days before the election.

[DoctorNine]

Planes and space?

I feel a little excited. I think I may need to revisit my old Space Ghost archive...