India harbors 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 "spacecraft" program.

Illustration photo: Sputnik.

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is launching a landmark test to create India's own "spacecraft." In this first effort by the world's second most populous nation, the agency is making gradual progress toward developing an Indian-branded version of a spacecraft.

The test is scheduled to take place at the end of May, and if successful, scientists hope to reduce the cost of launching spacecraft to as low as $2,000 per kilogram – considered a significant achievement.

Responding to Sputnik news agency about the upcoming event, Dr. K. Sivan, Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center of ISRO, affirmed: “We are conducting a small experiment. We don't have a complete spacecraft yet, but it's a small step towards achieving that. And to do that requires a lot of technology; we are looking for ways to apply such technology in the testing phase.”

The wing-mounted fuselage is in the final stages of testing at the Sriharikota launch site in Andhra Pradesh, southern India. The official date for the test has not yet been announced.

The experimental idea aimed to create a reusable launch vehicle equipped with wings – an idea previously abandoned by powerful players in the global space industry. For Indian scientists, making rockets reusable has long been a focus of research.

When the reusable device, named Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD), is launched with its delta wings fitted, it will attempt to land on a runway in the Bay of Belgal.

Mr. Sivan affirmed: "There is still a long way to go in terms of cooperation, sharing resources, and many other things. This is just the beginning."

Phu Binh

(According to Sputnik)