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In 2011, ISRO gave more details on its shuttle programme.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/soon-india-to-have-its-own-space-shuttle-123239|title=Soon, India to have its own space shuttle|date=31 July 2011|work=NDTV.com}}</ref>
===Test missions===
A total of four RLV-TD flights are planned by ISRO.<ref>http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/media/33219-5/IMG_0024.JPG</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isro.gov.in/technology-development-programmes/reusable-launch-vehicle-technology-demonstration-program-rlv-td|title=Reusable Launch Vehicle - Technology Demonstration Program (RLV-TD) - ISRO|work=isro.gov.in}}</ref>
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===Scaled-down tests===
[[File:AvatarTD.JPG|thumb|RLV-TD|216x216px]]In January 2012, ISRO announced that a scaled prototype, called '''Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator''' ('''RLV-TD'''), was approved to be built and tested.<ref name="FinalTouches2015">{{cite news |url=http://idrw.org/indias-futuristic-unmanned-space-shuttle-getting-final-touches/ |title=India’s Futuristic Unmanned Space Shuttle Getting Final Touches |work=EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE |publisher=Indian Defence Research Wing |date=20 May 2015 |accessdate=2015-05-20 }}</ref> The aerodynamics characterization of the RLV-TD prototype was done by [[National Aerospace Laboratories]] in India. The RLV-TD is in the last stages of construction by a Hyderabad-based private company called CIM Technologies.
By May 2015, engineers at the [[Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre]] (VSSC) in [[Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station]] were installing thermal tiles on the outer surface of the 'RLV-TD', so it can withstand the intense heat during [[Atmospheric entry|atmospheric reentry]].<ref name="FinalTouches2015"/> This prototype weighs around 1.5 tonnes and would fly up to an altitude of 70 km.<ref name="FinalTouches2015"/> ISRO has tentatively slated the prototype's test flight from the first launchpad of [[Satish Dhawan Space Centre]] for December 2015.<ref>http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/RLV-TD-Mission-to-be-Delayed-At-least-Till-the-Year-End/2015/10/02/article3058357.ece</ref> The RLV-TD will be mounted on top of a solid booster HS9<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.sc.iitb.ac.in/~pdsc2014/MVD_talk.pdf|title = Modeling &Control of Launch Vehicles by M. V. Dhekane|date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> with 1 m diameter and launched beyond the atmosphere, after which the RLV-TD will separate and reenter the atmosphere while traveling through the hypersonic regime.<ref name="Brahmand 2010">{{cite web |url=http://www.brahmand.com/news/Reusable-Launch-Vehicles-%EF%BF%BD-The-future-of-space-missions/5595/3/15.html |title=Reusable Launch Vehicles |work=Brahmand.com |date=November 25, 2010 |accessdate=2014-10-22 }}</ref> The rocket is expendable while the RLV would glide back to Earth and fall in Bay of Bengal as there are no airstrips that are 5 km long at suitable ___location in India that could be used to land such aircraft. ISRO has made detailed reports to construct an airstrip greater than 4 km long in the [[Sriharikota]] island and it will be built in near future.<ref name="Indian Express">{{cite web |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/ISRO-Gears-up-for-6-Major-Missions-This-Year/2015/05/30/article2839810.ece|title=ISRO Gears up for 6 Major Missions This Year|work=Express News Service |date=30 May 2015}}</ref>
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