The RLV-TD (Reusable Launch Vehicle – Technology Demonstrator), is the first phase of the Indian Space Research Organization’s project on getting India its first two stage to orbit (TSTO), fully reusable orbital launcher. The RLV-TD completed its first test flight successful on May 2016 and achieved all test targets. The mission was to test technologies like autonomous navigation, guidance & control, reusable thermal protection system and re-entry mission management.
But the mission is not really a milestone yet. The RLV-TD is a scaled down prototype, didn’t have a payload and will need at least 10 years of tests to carry out its first actual mission. What it can do is achieve hypersonic flight, land autonomously on a strip of a runway and perform flight correction maneuvers.
