Indian space scientists have successfully brought back to earth an orbiting satellite in the first of its kind mission aimed at demonstrating spacecraft recovery technology capability.
The 550-kg spacecraft, Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE-1), spashed down in the Bay of Bengal, about 140 km east of Sriharkikota coast at around 9.45 am on Monday as planned, ISRO officials said.
"A Coast Guard helicopter has located it. A ship has already move in. Recovery efforts are in full swing. The capsule is expected to be brought to Sriharikota via the Ennore Port by Monday night," an ISRO official told PTI.
The capsule was launched by PSLV-C7 along with Cartosat-2 on January 10 from the Sriharikota spaceport and space scientists conducted two microgravity experiments on board related to metallurgy and biometric synthesis.
According to Bangalore-based ISRO, on re-entry into the earth's atmosphere, after initial aerodynamic braking, a parachute system reduced the touch down velocity.
A floatation system kept the SRE afloat.
ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair had said earlier that SRE was intended for demonstrating the capability to recover an orbiting space capsule, and the technology of an orbiting platform for performing experiments in microgravity condition.
Officials said SRE, made of mild steel, was intended to test reusable thermal protection system, navigation, guidance and control, hypersonic aero-thermodynamics, management of communication blackout, deceleration and floatation system and recovery operations.
