At the same time, according to a PTI report, ISRO tested the CE20 cryogenic engine under normal environmental conditions, which was successful. According to ISRO, this success is an important step for future missions.
ISRO successfully tested its CE20 cryogenic engine with 100 nozzle area ratio on sea bed at ‘ISRO Propulsion Complex’ in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu on 29 November. ISRO said that the indigenous CE20 cryogenic engine developed by ‘Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre’ is powering the upper stage of ‘Launch Vehicle Mark-3’ (LVM-3). It has been qualified to operate at a ‘thrust’ level of 19 tonnes.
ISRO says the engine was recently upgraded to enable a thrust level of 20 tonnes for the Gaganyaan mission, and an improved thrust level of 22 tonnes for the future C32 stage. . Gaganyaan is ISRO’s first manned mission. The ability to restart the engine was also demonstrated during testing.
The names of four astronauts have been approved for the Gaganyaan mission. All of them are on training. Astronauts will be taken to the International Space Station 400 kilometers above the Earth. After staying for three days, the astronauts will land in the Indian maritime area.