When it comes to making India proud, there is no doubt that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) shines brightly on the global stage. ISRO’s incredible achievements have not only put India on the map but also garnered admiration and respect from around the world.
Recently, ISRO successfully launched the Chandrayaan 3 Spacecraft as part of its third lunar mission. It successfully lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota and is expected to touch down on the moon on August 24.
Now, the ISRO has once again grabbed the headlines, after successfully testing the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) situated in Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.
In the recent test, ISRO used five liquid apogee motor (LAM) engines with a thrust of 440N (Newton) and 16 reaction control system (RCS) thrusters with a thrust of 100N, said the national space agency in a statement.
The Gaganyaan project is being developed to carry out human spaceflight. The plan involves launching a crew of three members to an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission and then safely bringing them back to Earth.
The Service Module (SM) of Gaganyaan is a regulated bi-propellant-based propulsion system designed to meet the needs of the Orbital Module. It will perform various tasks such as orbit injection, circularisation, on-orbit control, de-boost manoeuvring, and SM-based abort during the ascent phase.
During the mission’s ascending phase, the 440N Thrust LAM engines will act as the primary propulsive force by producing the required thrust, while the RCS thrusters will ensure accurate altitude correction.
The hot test of the System Demonstration Model (SDM) simulated the fluid circuit of the Service Module Propulsion System. The system consists of the propellant tank feed system, helium pressurisation system, flight-qualified thrusters, and control components.
The test lasted for 250 seconds, during which all the LAM engines and RCS thrusters fired continuously according to the test profile. The purpose of the test was to showcase the integrated performance of the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System.
In the Phase-1 test series, ISRO conducted a total of five hot tests for a total duration of 2,750 seconds. During this phase, only five 440 N LAM engines and eight 100 N RCS thrusters were used.
Whereas, In the Phase-2 test series, ISRO utilised the full potential of the current configuration setup that consists of five 440 N LAM engines and sixteen 100 N RCS thrusters.
ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission is a significant milestone for India’s space program and a source of national pride. The successful testing of propulsion systems and engines is a testament to ISRO’s dedication and technological prowess.
