Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Science and Technology
Why in News?
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently conducted a successful Flight Acceptance Test of a cryogenic engine for the next LVM3 mission.
- The indigenous CE20 cryogenic engine will power the upper stage of the next LVM3 launch, designated LVM3-M7.
LVM-3 is India’s heaviest operational launch vehicle.
- NPS - It also marked the first time the space agency used a newly developed Nozzle Protection System (NPS) during a flight acceptance test.
- NPS is designed to enable testing of the CE20 engine fitted with its full area-ratio 100 nozzle under sea-level conditions.
- The results confirmed the satisfactory performance of both the engine systems and the NPS.
- Thrust Range - The engine is qualified to operate across a thrust range of 19 to 22 tonnes and has successfully flown on eight consecutive LVM-3 missions.
- Launches
- These include Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3 and 3 commercial launches.
- The engine has also completed the human-rating qualification required for use in the Gaganyaan program, India's first human spaceflight mission.
- The new system simplifies these procedures, reduces the resources needed for engine testing and enables longer-duration tests.
Reference
Times of India | CE20 cryogenic engine
