ISRO Advances Gaganyaan Mission with Successful Engine Development

Significant Milestone for Gaganyaan Mission

New Delhi, July 12: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has made a notable advancement in the Gaganyaan Mission by successfully developing a crucial engine.

This month, ISRO completed two hot tests for the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS), marking a significant step forward.

According to ISRO, the qualification test program for the Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) has been successfully concluded.

On Friday, a full-duration hot test of the SMPS was conducted for 350 seconds to assess its integrated performance during a flight off-nominal mission profile for the SM-based mission abort.

ISRO reported that the propulsion system's overall performance during the hot test was consistent with pre-test expectations.

The Service Module (SM) of Gaganyaan utilizes a regulated bi-propellant propulsion system designed to meet the Orbital Module's needs for orbit circularization, on-orbit control, de-boost maneuvers, and abort scenarios during ascent.

The Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) engines deliver the primary thrust during orbit circularization and de-boost phases, while the Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters provide precise attitude control.

ISRO explained that a System Demonstration Model (SDM) testbed was created to simulate the fluid circuit of the Service Module Propulsion System, which includes the propellant tank feed system, helium pressurization system, flight-qualified thrusters, and control components.

Additionally, the agency noted that the SDM for the Service Module Propulsion System has undergone 25 tests under both nominal and off-nominal conditions, accumulating a total of 14,331 seconds for various Gaganyaan mission scenarios and human rating requirements.

The Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) designed, developed, and realized the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System, with tests conducted at the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) in Mahendragiri.

Scheduled for launch in 2027, Gaganyaan represents India's human spaceflight initiative aimed at demonstrating the nation's ability to send a crewed spacecraft into low Earth orbit.

ISRO plans to launch at least two significant projects under the Gaganyaan mission this year, including a second test vehicle and an uncrewed mission.

The uncrewed orbital test mission will serve as a precursor to India's human spaceflight program, validating systems for crew safety and recovery.

In related news, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, one of the four astronaut-designates for the Gaganyaan program, has been conducting scientific experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS) that could benefit the country's human spaceflight mission. He is expected to return to Earth next week.