Journal d'ingénierie aéronautique et aérospatiale
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Reusable Launch Vehicles: Evolution Redefined

Bhavana Y,Mani Shankar N,Prarthana BK*

Conserve, Reuse, Reproduce these are the words using which the present day society is trying to make an impact in reducing the excessive usage of the depleting resources and decreasing time as well as in bringing down the cost and in increasing the efficiency of the products. One of the technology’s biggest inventions rather innovation at work is the development of The Reusable Launch Vehicle, in short known as the RLV. Reusability is the main criteria behind this vehicle. The vehicle will return back to earth after its task is completed, and is used for further missions. This invention mainly reduces the cost, time and the specified targets can be achieved with the use of fewer resources.

The idea of RLV made its foundation in the minds of the scientists in the 1950’s but bringing that idea into a real launch vehicle took many years as this idea was beyond the hands of the technology of that time. As the technology developed the path for the successful making of this launch vehicle was getting cleared. There were many factors that were to be considered like the low weight structure, heat shield, the propellants needed to be used, the engines etc. but the main aim was to bring out the concept behind its working and building a proper design which are discussed in this paper. With the ever-growing technology RLV’s with improved mechanisms like SSTO, TSTO were developed which are also mentioned below. In near future these RLV’s would completely bridge the gap between the earth and the sky.