India has ambitions to build its own spacecraft.

(Baonghean.vn) - The Indian space agency currently has an ambitious program, and is taking the first steps to develop its own "spaceship" program.

Illustration: Sputnik.

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is launching a landmark experiment to create its own “spaceship.” In a first for the world’s second most populous nation, the agency is taking gradual steps toward developing its own version of the spacecraft.

The test is expected to take place at the end of May, and if successful, scientists hope to reduce the cost of launching spacecraft to $2,000/kg - considered a remarkable achievement.

Speaking to Sputnik about the upcoming event, Dr K Sivan, Director of ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, said: “We are doing a small experiment. We are not yet in a complete spacecraft but it is a small step towards that. And for that, a lot of technology is needed, we are looking to implement such technology in the experimental phase.”

The straight-winged fuselage is in the final stages of testing at the Sriharikota launch site in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. An official date for the test has not been announced.

The experimental idea of ​​creating a reusable, winged launch vehicle has been abandoned by the major players in the global space industry. But for Indian scientists, making rockets reusable has long been a focus of research.

When the reusable vehicle called the Reusable Vehicle Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) with delta wings launches in May, it will attempt to land on a runway in the Bay of Bengal.

“There is still a long way to go in terms of sharing resources and more. This is just the beginning,” Sivan said.

Phu Binh

(According to Sputnik)