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Indigenous cryogenic engine developed

D Jose in Thiruvananthapuram

India will commission an indigenously developed cryogenic engine to put heavier satellites in geo-synchronized orbit within 18 months, according to Dr S Vasantha, director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre at Valiyamala near Thiruvananthapuram.

Dr Vasantha told journalists here today that the upper stage of the 7.5-tonne engine would be tested at the LPSC's test centre at Mahendragiri next month. An integrated liquid hydrogen plant and dedicated ground test facilities have been established at Mahendragiri for the purpose.

The Indian cryogenic engine will be equivalent to the Russian one. India had undertaken the development of the engine indigenously after Russia refused to transfer the technology.

Dr Vasantha said that the first geo-stationery launch vehicle using the indigenous engine would be launched some time in 2001. India is using the Russian cryogenic engine for the launch of the first two GSLV flights, he said.

With this, India is poised to become the sixth nation to possess cryogenic technology. The other countries in the exclusive club are Russia, France, Japan, China and the United States.

The LPSC director said that the country plans to develop much bigger cryogenic engine in the near future.

Dr Vasantha said that India would become self-sufficient in satellite launch technology by 2001 making the year a milestone in the space history of India. The country could make its launch vehicle facilities available to other countries too.

"Some countries have already approached us for use of this facility," he added. The country has already begun exporting various components of the cryogenic engines, like thrusters and propellant tanks.

"We have also started accepting orders for developing software for other countries," he said.

India can also send unmanned vehicles to the space, Dr. Vasantha said, when asked about the launch of the unmanned vehicle by China recently.

"We have the technology to send unmanned vehicles in another five to six years. However, the priorities of our space programmes are different. Our aim is not to send a man to the moon," he said.

Dr Vasantha said that cryogenic technology was very complex but Indian scientists had completed the task in a shorter span of time than other countries.

"The cryogenic engine we have developed was non-polluting and cost-effective. It cost us only Rs 85 million for developing the upper stage whereas, the upper stage of the Russian cryogenic engine cost Rs 1 billion," he said.

LPSC had initiated the design and realisation of this engine in this decade. Other countries possessing this technology had taken 10 to 15 years to develop this critical technology, Dr Vasantha said.

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