ISRO successfully conducts hot tests of Gaganyaan propulsion system

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: ISRO has successfully conducted two hot tests of the Gaganyaan Service Module Propul sion System (SMPS) at the space agency's Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri on July 3. The short-duration tests, lasting 30 seconds and 100 seconds respectively, were aimed at validating the test article configuration, ISRO said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The overall perfor mance of the propulsion system during these hot tests was normal as per pre-test predictions. Dur ing the 100s test, simul taneous operation of all Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters in differ ent modes (steady state; pulsed) along with all Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) engines was also success fully demonstrated. "ISRO's Liquid Propulsion System Centre (LPSC) is leading the technology development activities for the Gaganyaan SMPS.

SMPS is a critical system of Gaganyaan Orbital Mod ule and is required during orbital manoeuvring as well as specific abort scenarios," the space agency said. It comprises five Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) engines (each 440N thrust) and 16 Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters (each 100N thrust).

In order to simulate the propulsion system conditions closer to flight, the SMPS test ar ticle for these hottests incorporated improve ments based on experi ence gained from earlier hot tests.

"With the confidence gained through these hot tests, ISRO will conduct a full duration hot test shortly," the statement said.

According to ISRO, the Gaganyaan programme aims to demonstrate In dia's capability to launch a crewed spacecraft into low Earth orbit, and the ex perience and knowledge gained from this mission will be crucial for its success.