India on Monday successfully launched its maiden winged reusable launch vehicle (RLV) as a technology demonstrator, an official said.
"We have successfully accomplished the RLV - TD mission.
The lift - off was at 7. 00 a. m. from the first launch pad here, " Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) director Devi Prasad Karnik told IANS after the mini - shuttle returned to the Earth.
The 1. 7 - tonne RLV was launched from ISRO's spaceport here in Andhra Pradesh, about 80 km northeast of Chennai off the Bay of Bengal coast.