Isro’s indigenous cryogenic engine tech gets a testing upgrade

Isro has deployed a newly developed indigenous Nozzle Protection System (NPS) during a flight acceptance test of its CE20 cryogenic engine, simplifying a testing process that previously needed complex high-altitude facilities to simulate near-vacuum conditions.

The test, conducted on 6 July at the Isro Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, cleared the CE20 engine to power the upper stage of the next LVM3 mission, LVM3-M7. Isro said the engine and the new system both performed satisfactorily, running at a thrust level of 19.5 tonnes for 45 seconds before ramping up to the engine’s maximum rated thrust of 22 tonnes for another 25 seconds.

According to Isro, the new system enables testing of the CE20 engine’s full area-ratio 100 nozzle under sea-level conditions, reducing the resources needed for engine testing and allowing longer-duration tests. The agency had earlier validated the system on a qualification engine through multiple test campaigns before this flight acceptance test.

The indigenously developed CE20 engine has flown on eight consecutive LVM3 missions, including Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3, and has completed the human-rating qualification needed for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme.

The successful test is expected to streamline future CE20 acceptance testing and support upcoming LVM3 launches, including Gaganyaan missions.