ISRO’s cryogenic engine, indigenously developed for LVM3 passes the test

In a recent test conducted, ISRO increased the carrying capacity of its LVM3 (GSLV Mk-III) rocket by 450 kg with additional propellant loading of its cryogenic engine CE20.

Highlights of the Test

• The CE20 cryogenic engine was indigenously developed for LVM3 and has been subjected to a successful hot test at an uprated thrust level of 8 tonnes for the first time.
• In addition to this 3D printed LOX and LH2 turbine exhaust casings were also been inducted into the engine for the first time.
• The Indian space agency has made some major modifications carried out on this test article compared to the previous engines which made the introduction of a Thrust Control Valve (TCV) for thrust control.
• During this test, the engine operated with about 20t thrust level for the first 40 seconds, and then the thrust level was increased to 8t by moving the thrust control valve.

Features of LVM3 rocket:

• The Launch Vehicle Mark-3(LVM 3) previously referred to as the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk3) is a three-stage medium-lift launch vehicle.
• It was primarily designed to launch communication satellites into geostationary orbit.
• The cryogenic upper stage of the LVM3 vehicle (C25 stage) is powered by a CE-20 engine working with liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen (LOX-LH2) propellants combination.
• The LVM3 rocket is the one that is used by ISRO to launch third-party satellites on commercial terms.

Recent Successful launches:

• The first batch of 36 satellites of OneWeb was put into orbit by the LVM3 rocket.
• Chandrayaan mission

Aspiring launches:

• Gaganyaan Mission- First manned mission by India