Nagercoil, February 9
The first indigenously-built cryogenic engine was successfully test-fired today at the ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) on Mahendragiri hills in Kanyakumari district of southern Tamil Nadu.
The short-duration “hot test”, lasting 10 seconds, was successful with the engine reportedly getting specific impulse of 320-330 seconds.
The cryogenic engine constitutes the third and upper stage (cryostage) of the geo-synchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV) from its third flight onwards.
Watched by LPSC Centre Director N. Vedachalam and Cryogenic Project Director V. Gnana Gandhi, among a host of other scientists and engineers, the test-firing of the engine took place at 4.35 pm.
Mr Gandhi said the second test would be conducted within a week. It would be for 30 seconds. A long-duration test would be conducted later.
The successful test-firing of the cryogenic engine made India the sixth country with cryogenic capability. While other countries took 10 to 15 years for the development of the technology, LPSC took about nine years.
The indigenously-built cryostage, with 7.5-tonne thrust and a propellant loading of 15 tonnes, is readied for use in the third flight of the GSLV onwards.
The first flight of the GSLV was launched with the cryostage procured from Russia. The second flight of the GSLV would also be launched with the cryostage from Russia.
“The successful testing of the indigenously-built cryostage by the LPSC is a milestone in the history of space technology in the country,” Mr Gandhi said.
The cryogenic engine test-fired today was the equivalent of Russian stage in its capability, sources said.
The cryogenic upper-stage engine developed indigenously is 200 kg less than the Russian cryostage.
UNI
