Important Space Related News

Recent Amendment

1. RLV LEX
   • SRO successfully conducted the Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLVLEX). The test was conducted at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga, Karnataka inthe early hours on April 2, 2023.
   • Reusable Launch Vehicle : A launch system that allows for the reuse of some or all of the component stages. The vehicle returns to earth intact after a mission.
   • Challenges to this Technology : Lack of landing technology; Reusable stages weigh more than equivalent expendable stages; Refurbishment after landing may be lengthy and expensive.
   • Phases of Reusable Tech Experiment :
     • Hypersonic flight experiment (HEX, conducted in 2016),
     • Landing experiment (LEX),
     • Return flight experiment (REX), and
     • Scramjet propulsion experiment (SPEX).
   • RLV-LEX involves taking an unmanned, winged prototype to an altitude of about 4.5km on a helicopter and releasing it to land. It must travel the distance autonomously, gain velocity, maintain control and land on the runway.
   • Other Countries working in this direction : USA (SpaceX Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, Starship); Blue Origin’s Space Shepard; Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo.
2. SNAP 10A
   • Launched on April 3, 1965, SNAP-10A was the world’s first operational nuclear reactor in space. While it still remains in orbit, it was operational for just 43 days.
   • The U.S.’ first and only known space nuclear reactor, the SNAP-10A was the result of the government-sponsored System for Nuclear Auxiliary Power (SNAP) programme, also known as SNAPSHOT for Space Nuclear Auxiliary Power Shot.

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