ISRO's CE20 cryogenic engine passes critical test

ISRO on Thursday said it has achieved a major milestone after its CE20 cryogenic engine passed a critical test in ambient condition, featuring restart enabling systems.

According to ISRO, this success was a vital step for future missions.

"ISRO has successfully carried out the sea level hot test of its CE20 Cryogenic Engine featuring a nozzle area ratio of 100 at ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, on November 29," the Indian space agency said in a statement.

The indigenous CE20 cryogenic engine developed by the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre is powering the upper stage of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3) and has been qualified to operate at a thrust level of 19 tonne, ISRO explained.

It said that this engine has successfully powered the upper stage of six LVM3 missions so far.

"Recently, the engine was qualified for the Gaganyaan mission with a thrust level of 20 tonne and also to an uprated thrust level of 22 tonne for the future C32 stage, towards enhancing the payload capability of LVM3 launch vehicle," ISRO said.

Gaganyaan is ISRO's first manned mission.

According to the space agency, the performance of a multi-element igniter that is required for engine restart capability was also demonstrated during this test.

"Testing the CE20 engine at sea level poses considerable challenges, primarily due to the high area ratio nozzle which has an exit pressure of approximately 50 mbar," it said.