5 Unique Things About India’s First ‘Swadeshi’ Space Shuttle

Here are five features that make the launch special.

(Photo Courtesy: ISRO)

ISRO has reached a distinct milestone by launching the Reusable Space Shuttle on Monday morning. Only Rs 95 crore were spent on the project involving 600 scientists who worked day and night for 6 months to make this happen. Presently, India is the only country to have sent a winged craft in the space.

1. The Project is Extremely Frugal

After the success of Mangalayan, ISRO scientists have once again built a space craft for a mere Rs 95 crore which otherwise costs Rs 300 crore.

2. Ceramic Tile Did Wonders

Travelling five times more than the speed of sound, a craft on its return to the earth’s orbit gets fully burnt because of atmospheric pressure. But Indian scientists have used ceramic tiles, and as a result, the spacecraft fell in the Bay of Bengal, instead of burning.

3. Will Have to Wait Till 2030

If you are thinking Indian astronauts will be able to visit the space in an indigenously made shuttle soon, then you are mistaken. Actually the one sent on Monday is a scale model. The real version of this craft, weighing 1.75 tone and measuring 6.5 metre in length, will be available only by 2030.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@drharshvardhan )

4. India – Only Country to Send a Winged Aircraft in Sapce

India is the only country in the world which is sending a winged spacecraft in the space. America retired its space shuttle in 2011. Russia sent its spacecraft only once in 1989.

5. Why Is This Project Crucial?

This project is an extremely important part of India’s space programme. This launch will enable ISRO to place satellites in the earth’s orbit with the help of medium to heavyweight rockets built at reduced costs. The current expenditure of sending a spacecraft comes to $20000 per kg.

The story has been translated from the original by Shambhavi Prakash.