The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) successfully conducted the first developmental flight of an Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV-D01) at 8.30 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR in Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district on 3rd March 2010.

According to the Shar officials, ATV is a high performance sounding rocket offering cost-effective test bed for demonstrating “air breathing propulsion.” The rocket, which is 10.3m tall and weighs 3,050 kgs, is the biggest and heaviest sounding vehicle that been developed by Isro till date.

ATV-D01 is configured as a two stage, unguided, spinning, fin-stabilised rocket. It carries a simulated passive scramjet engine model for verification of flight parameters.

During the flight, the vehicle successfully dwelled for 7 seconds in the desired conditions of Mach number (6 + 0.5) and dynamic pressure (80 + 35 kPa). These conditions are required for a stable ignition of active scramjet engine combustor module planned in the next flight of ATV.

The Advanced Technology Vehicle achieved a maximum attitude of 46 km at 120 seconds after the take-off.