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Journalism of Courage
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, NOV 23: Hitting yet another milestone in India8217;s space programme, the fully indigenous 7.5 tonne thrust upper stage cryogenic engine will be tested at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre LPSC test facility at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu towards the end of next month, according to Dr S Vasantha, LPSC director.
With the successful development of this critical technology India would be able to use its own cryogenic engine for the third launch of GSLV towards the end of 2001, Vasantha told a meet-the-press programme here today. In the first two launches of GSLV the Russian engine would be used, he said.
Initiating the design and realisation of cryo engine in the beginning of the present decade, LPSC had successfully realised and tested one-tonne cryo engine and derated 12-tonne thrust chamber, Vasantha said.
The 7.5 tonne thrust integrated engine was already realised and the coldflow tested in the sub-assembly level. The final integration was now on and the hot test would be conducted next month, he said. quot;Once proven, the cryo technology will be a boon to Indian Space Research Organization,quot; he said.
By developing indigenous technology the cost for each stage could be reduced by 30 to 40 per cent, he said.
Asked how long would India take to launch a spacecraft as was done by China recently, Vasantha said if wanted India could do it in four to five years. He, however, said the ISRO was now concentrating on achieving the Russian level in cryogenic technology. Also, the country8217;s priorities were different as the goal of its space programme from the very beginning was to make the fruits of technology for the common man8217;s benefit, he said.
