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Thiruvananthapuram, India (PTI) Jan 19, 2007 The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is set to achieve another major milestone tomorrow with the full duration test of the indigenous "cryogenic stage" rocket engine for its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). The indigenous cryogenic stage would fire for 720 seconds at the Liquid Propulsions Systems Centre (LPSC) at Mahendragiri near Nagercoil tomorrow, marking a big leap from the 50-second successful test conducted on October 28 last year. "The test will be a demonstration of indigenously developed cryogenic stage. The success of the test will enable us to use it in our future GSLV flights," LPSC Director R V Perumal said here. A successful test would enable India to join United States, Russia, China, Japan and European Space Agency, who had achieved success in the field earlier. ISRO took up indigenous development of cryogenic stage with regenerative cooled engine to replace the existing procured stage from Russia currently used in GSLV flights, Perumal said. A series of cryogenic stage tests with a cumulative duration of 6,000 seconds had already been conducted at LPSC. The 720-second firing tomorrow is to test a cryogenic stage with 12 tonnes of propellants which can produce a thrust of 7.5 tonnes. Indigenous development of cryogenic engines for use in GSLV was started in 1994 after Russia declined to sell its know-how to India. Cryogenic engines can put satellites weighing more than 2,500 kg into geo-synchronous transfer orbits (GTO) at an altitude of 36,000 km. The cryogenic engine uses liquid hydrogen at minus 252 degrees celsius and liquid oxygen at minus 183 degrees celsius as oxidiser. Development of the engine involves a highly complex technology as it involves handling of very low temperatures of the propellants, ISRO sources said. In the earlier upper stage cryogenic tests, stage elements like engine, insulated propellant tanks, booster pumps, fill and drain systems, pressurisation systems, gas bottles, igniters, cold gas orientation and stabilisation systems had performed satisfactorily. The materials used to operate at extremely low temperatures chilling processes and the interplay of various critical engine parameters make the cryogenic stage a challenging task. "A cryogenic stage is a very complex system that entails synergy from multi-disciplinary teams that develop sub-systems and electronic components," a source said. ISRO devised electronics, controls and liquid hydrogen for the entire cryogenic stage.
Source: Press Trust of India Related Links Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com
XCOR Aerospace Begins Test Firing Of Methane Rocket Engine
Mojave CA (SPX) Jan 17, 2007XCOR Aerospace has completed a series of successful test firings of its new 7,500 pound thrust rocket engine. The tests were conducted as part of a $3.3 million subcontract XCOR has with Alliant Techsystems. The tests support NASA's advanced development program to obtain liquid methane rocket engine technology for future space applications. Six short-duration test fires have been completed.
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