ISRO to test Cryogenic engine this month

MAHENDRAGIRI TN, DEC 4: Engineers and scientists at the liquid propulsion systems centre LPSC of Indian Space Research Organisation I...

MAHENDRAGIRI TN, DEC 4: Engineers and scientists at the liquid propulsion systems centre LPSC of Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO are busy giving finishing touches to India8217;s first indigenously developed Cryogenic engine, slated to be hot-tested this month-end here.

8220;Ninety-nine per cent of the work is over. Only last minute checks like gas-leak check remain to be done,8221; said Gnana Gandhi, Deputy Director in charge of the project. 8220;Works have progressed as per schedule. A firm date for the test will be announced by the headquarters of ISRO. Anyway, the test is expected to take place before the year end,8221; S Vasantha, Director LPSC, told a team of visiting journalists here recently.

The 7.5 tonne thrust upper stage with liquid hydrogen and oxygen as propellants was expected to be used for the third launch of the GSLV around 2001, after the first two launches with Russian engines, he said.

The stage being developed here is 9.089 metre long, 2.8 metre in diameter with 12.5 tonne propellant loading capacity, LPSC authorities said. The engine was more or less identical with the Russian one but the fabrication process was different, Dr Vasantha said. 8220;In certain features this is as an improved version and has a higher ISP of 461 seconds, which could in layman8217;s terms means better fuel-efficiency,8221; Gnana Gandhi said. What has been planned is a 1,200-second test on the 24-metre high testing pad of 20 metre width and 10 metre breadth, said D Sarvesan, in-charge of the test facility.

The integrated liquid hydrogen plant here, the only one of its kind in the country, is ready with the propellant needed for the test. 8220;In India there is a mismatch between development of satellite and launch capability and this would be bridged with GSLV-111. In about 4 years we would be launching our satellites with our own launch vehicles,8221; he said.

8220;The next millennium is going to be the space age. Personally I feel we should not miss it,8221; he added.