ISRO Successfully Tests CE20 Cryogenic Engine Ignition

GS3 SCIENCE & TECH:

• On February 7, 2025, ISRO conducted a successful ignition trial of the CE20 cryogenic engine at the High Altitude Test Facility in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.
• This engine powers the upper stage of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) and is crucial for the Gaganyaan mission.

Significance of CE20 Engine

• Capable of generating thrust levels between 19 to 22 tonnes.
• Designed for vacuum conditions, making it essential for high-altitude missions like Gaganyaan.
• The ignition success represents a significant step for India’s space exploration.

Ignition Trial Details

• Featured a multi-element igniter setup tested under simulated flight conditions.
• Performance was reported as normal, meeting all expectations.
• The successful test underscores the engine’s readiness for future space missions.

Challenges and Solutions

• Restarting cryogenic engines is complex due to their operational requirements.
• ISRO is exploring the use of turbopumps in bootstrap mode to enable re-ignition during flight.
• This method allows both the thrust chamber and gas generator to reignite under specific tank head conditions.

Future Testing Plans

• Series of tests planned to validate multiple engine restarts during a single flight.
• Essential for the success of Gaganyaan, which may require several restarts.

About Gaganyaan

• India’s first human spaceflight mission by ISRO.
• Objective: Send astronauts to a 400 km low Earth orbit for three days and safely return.
• Launch vehicle: LVM-3 (formerly GSLV Mk III), India’s most powerful rocket.
• If successful, India will join the US, Russia, and China in manned space missions.

Spacecraft Details

• Crew Module: 3.7m wide, 7m tall, housing astronauts.
• Service Module: Contains essential systems.
• Crew suits designed by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre provide one hour of emergency oxygen.
• Return journey duration: 36 hours, landing in the Arabian Sea near Gujarat.

Key Technologies Developed by ISRO

• Crew Escape System for emergency evacuation.
• Re-entry Technology for safe descent to Earth.
• Thermal Protection System to endure high temperatures.
• Life Support Systems for astronaut survival in space.