Reusable Launch Vehicle – Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) is one of the most technologically challenging endeavors of ISRO.

The configuration of RLV-TD is similar to that of an aircraft and combines the complexity of both launch vehicles and aircraft.

RLV-TD consists of a fuselage (body), a nose cap, double delta wings and twin vertical tails.

It also features symmetrically placed active control surfaces called Elevons and Rudder.

This technology demonstrator was boosted to Mach no: 5 by a conventional solid booster (HS9) designed for low burn rate.

The selection of materials like special alloys, composites and insulation materials for developing an RLV-TD and the crafting of its parts is very complex and demands highly skilled manpower.

Many high technology machinery and test equipment were utilised for building this vehicle.

Objectives of RLV-TD:
Hypersonic aero thermodynamic characterisation of wing body
Integrated flight management
Evaluation of autonomous Navigation, Guidance and Control (NGC) schemes
Thermal Protection System Evaluation

Reusable Launch Vehicle – Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD)-