Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Technology | 24 Jan 2026

Source: TH 

Why in News?  

The global space sector is shifting from government-led exploration to private-driven commercial activity, with Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) technology emerging as a key disruptor.  

  • As the market is projected to exceed USD 1 trillion by 2030, reusability has reduced launch costs by 5–20 times, enabling more sustainable and frequent access to space. 

What are the Key Facts About the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Technology? 

  • About: An RLV is a space launch system designed to allow for the recovery of some or all of its component stages.  
    • Unlike "expendable" rockets that burn up or are discarded in the ocean, RLVs return to Earth to be refurbished and flown again. 
  • Goal: To shift the space industry from a "disposable" model to a "transportation" model (like aviation), significantly reducing the cost of access to space. 
  • Scientific Constraint Behind RLVs: Rocket motion is governed by the Tsiolkovsky rocket equation, which shows that carrying fuel itself adds weight, and additional weight demands even more fuel. 
    • Consequently, over 90% of a rocket’s mass consists of propellant and fuel tanks, leaving less than 4% for payload. 
    • RLV technology addresses this inefficiency by reusing expensive rocket hardware across multiple missions, significantly reducing per-launch costs. 
  • Role of Staging: Staging divides a rocket into multiple propulsion units that are discarded sequentially during ascent to shed dead weight. 
    • This improves performance by allowing the remaining rocket to accelerate with reduced mass. 
    • Traditional vehicles like PSLV and LVM-3 use fully expendable staging, whereas RLV systems aim to recover and reuse critical stages, especially the first stage, combining staging with reusability for maximum efficiency. 
  • RLV Mechanism: 
    • Launch: RLV or reusable stage is launched like a conventional rocket to deliver payload to orbit. 
    • Stage separation: After burnout, the reusable stage separates from the upper stage. 
    • Re-entry control: The stage re-enters the atmosphere using guidance, navigation, and control systems to maintain stability. 
    • Deceleration: Aerodynamic drag and/or retro-propulsion (engine relight) are used to reduce speed and heat load. 
    • Recovery: The vehicle lands vertically on a pad/barge or horizontally on a runway (winged RLV). 
      • Vertical Take-off, Vertical Landing (VTVL): The rocket lands upright on a pad or barge using controlled engine burns. 
      • Horizontal Landing (Winged Body): A winged RLV glides back and lands on a runway like an aircraft. 
    • Refurbishment: Post-flight inspection, repair, and testing enable multiple reuses, lowering per-launch. 
  • Limitations: 
    • Thermal Stress: Re-entry generates extreme heat. Engines and materials suffer fatigue and micro-fractures, requiring expensive Thermal Protection Systems (TPS). 
    • Refurbishment Costs and Time: Rise with each reuse and can reduce economic gains beyond a point. 
      • Risk management challenges, as higher reuse demands stricter inspection and testing to maintain reliability. 

ISRO's Reusability Initiatives 

  • Reusable Launch Vehicle – Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) (Pushpak): A winged technology demonstrator that simulates an aircraft-like landing.  
  • ADMIRE: ISRO's test bed for Vertical Landing technology (VTVL), aiming to develop retro-propulsion capabilities similar to Falcon 9. 
  • NGLV (Project Soorya): The Next Generation Launch Vehicle is being designed to replace Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). It will feature a reusable first stage using vertical landing technology.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1. What is a Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV)? 
An RLV is a launch system designed to recover and reuse rocket stages instead of discarding them, significantly reducing launch costs.

2. Why is reusability critical to the commercial space sector? 
Reusability lowers launch costs by 5–20 times, enables frequent missions, and makes space access economically sustainable.

3. What scientific constraint makes space launches expensive? 
The Tsiolkovsky rocket equation shows that rockets must carry enormous fuel mass, leaving less than 4% of total mass for payload.

4. How does staging improve rocket efficiency? 
Staging sheds dead weight during ascent, allowing the remaining rocket to accelerate more efficiently with reduced mass.

5. What are India’s key initiatives in reusable launch technology? 
ISRO is developing winged RLVs through RLV-TD (Pushpak), VTVL capability via ADMIRE, and a reusable first stage under NGLV (Project Soorya).

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ) 

Prelims

Q. With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements: (2018)

  1. PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites. 
  2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth. 
  3. GSLV Mk III is a four-staged launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors; and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

(a) 1 only 
(b) 2 and 3 
(c) 1 and 2  
(d) 3 only 

Ans: (a)