Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission: ISRO efficiently conducts propulsion check

The Indian Space Research Organisation has efficiently examined the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu. Wednesday’s check concerned 5 liquid apogee motor (LAM) engines with a thrust of 440 N (Newton) and 16 response management system (RCS) thrusters with a thrust of 100 N, the nationwide area company headquartered right here mentioned in an announcement.

The Gaganyaan challenge envisages demonstration of human spaceflight functionality by launching a crew of three members to an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission and bringing them again safely to Earth, by touchdown in Indian sea waters, in keeping with ISRO. The Service Module (SM) of Gaganyaan is a regulated bi-propellant based mostly propulsion system that caters to the necessities of the Orbital Module, performing orbit injection, circularisation, on-orbit management, de-boost manoeuvring and SM based mostly abort (if any) throughout the ascent part, the assertion mentioned.

The 440 N Thrust LAM engines present the primary propulsive power throughout the mission ascending part, whereas the RCS thrusters guarantee exact angle correction. The sizzling check of the System Demonstration Model (SDM) emulated the fluid circuit of the Service Module Propulsion System, encompassing the propellant tank feed system, helium pressurisation system, flight-qualified thrusters, and management parts, it was acknowledged.

“The first hot test of the Phase-2 test series demonstrated the integrated performance of the Gaganyaan SMPS,” ISRO mentioned. The check, carried out for a period of 250 seconds, concerned LAM engines firing in steady mode, together with RCS thrusters, adhering to the check profile.

As a part of the Phase-1 check collection of SM SDM, ISRO had beforehand carried out 5 sizzling exams, totalling a period of two,750 seconds. The earlier part concerned 5 440 N LAM engines and eight 100 N RCS thrusters. For the Phase-2 check collection, the present configuration consists of the complete configuration of 5 440 N LAM engines and sixteen 100 N RCS thrusters.

The Gaganyaan SMPS is designed, developed, and realised by Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) of ISRO. “With the successful completion of this hot test, the SMPS has advanced in demonstrating its integrated performance in the full configuration. Moving forward, ISRO has scheduled five additional tests to demonstrate both nominal and off-nominal mission scenarios, reinforcing the rigour of testing and the commitment to mission success,” the area company mentioned