10 May 2026
India successfully tests reusable launch vehicle (RLV-LEX-04)
UPSC
Banking
Science
Defence
Summary
ISRO conducted the fourth landing experiment of its Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology Demonstrator at the Aeronautical Test Range, Chitradurga. The autonomous spaceplane landed precisely after release from a helicopter at 4.5 km altitude.
Why it matters
UPSC GS-3 (Space tech). Step toward indigenous space shuttle / SpaceX-style reusable launch. Cost-per-kg implications for satellite launches.