CHENNAI: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Friday night launched a sounding rocket (RH-560), a two-stage rocket to study attitudinal variations in the neutral winds and plasma dynamics. The rocket was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
“The launch of sounding rocket (RH-560) to study attitudinal variations in the neutral winds and plasma dynamics carried out today at SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota,” the agency tweeted on Friday night with images of the launch.
Sounding rockets are one or two stage solid propellant rockets used for probing the upper atmospheric regions and for space research. They also serve as affordable platforms to test or prove prototypes of new components or subsystems intended for use in launch vehicles or satellites.
At present, Isro has three versions of sounding rockets- RH-200, RH-300-Mk-II and RH-560-Mk-II capable of carrying 8-100kg payload and reach an altitude of 80 to 475km.
“Isro started launching indigenously made sounding rockets from 1965, and experience gained was of immense value in the mastering of solid propellant technology,” the agency said on its website.