ISRO successfully tested CE20 cryogenic engine for Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Program
CE20 Cryogenic engine is a crucial component in powering the cryogenic stage of the human-rated LVM3 launch vehicle for Gaganyaan human spaceflight missions
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved an important milestone in its rating of the CE20 cryogenic engine, a crucial component powering the cryogenic stage of the human-rated LVM3 launch vehicle for Gaganyaan human spaceflight missions. According to ISRO, four engines have successfully undergone 39 hot firing tests, totalling 8,810 seconds, surpassing the minimum human rating qualification standard requirement of 6,350 seconds.
“The CE20 cryogenic engine is now human-rated for Gaganyaan missions,” announced ISRO on Wednesday. The rigorous testing regimen aimed at demonstrating the engine’s reliability and performance under various operating conditions has opened the way for its clearance for manned space missions.
The ground qualification tests included life demonstration tests, endurance tests, and performance assessments under nominal and off-nominal operating conditions, covering parameters such as thrust, mixture ratio, and propellant tank pressure. These tests, crucial for ensuring the safety and reliability of the engine during manned missions, have been successfully completed, as confirmed by ISRO.
Additionally, acceptance tests for the flight engine designated for the first unmanned Gaganyaan (G1) mission, tentatively scheduled for the second quarter of 2024, have also been completed successfully. This engine, which will propel the upper stage of the human-rated LVM3 vehicle, has a thrust capability ranging from 19 to 22 tonnes and a specific impulse of 442.5 seconds, making it well-suited for the demands of spaceflight.
The most recent round of tests ended on February 13, with the seventh vacuum ignition test at the High Altitude Test Facility in ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri. These tests mimic real-flight situations, confirming the CE20 cryogenic engine’s readiness for Gaganyaan missions.
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