A new milestone for Indian space: VIKAS throttle engine has been successfully tested

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has demonstrated the ability of its “VIKAS” launch engine to control acceleration.

The space agency announced this Wednesday on its Twitter account that the initial hot acceleration test of the engine was carried out on January 30, 2023, with an expected acceleration of 67% of power for 43 seconds.

Vikas engine successfully underwent the first throttling demonstration hot test.

The test demonstrated a targeted 67% thrust level throttling for a duration of 43 s.

Throttlable liquid engines in launch vehicles facilitate booster stage recovery. https://t.co/Y8JnSguJdI pic.twitter.com/1zh8xEjm7p

— ISRO (@isro) February 8, 2023

The initial test of the VIKAS Accelerable Engine had favorable results, with the combustion and subsystems working as expected. All engine subsystems, control systems and test facility systems showed expected performance, the ISRO has stated.

What is the VIKAS engine?

The Center for Liquid Propulsion Systems has been conceptualizing and designing a series of liquid-fuelled rocket engines known as VIKAS since the 1970s. VIKAS is an acronym for Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai.

Initially, VIKAS engines used parts sourced from France, but these components were replaced over time by domestically made equivalents.

VIKAS propulsion engines are used to power the second stage of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), the boosters and the second stage of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark I and II, as well as the first stage of the GSLV Mark III or Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3). A throttling experiment was carried out to make it possible to recover the booster stages of upcoming rockets.

Control the speed and trajectory of your satellite with Throttling

Girish Linganna, an aerospace and defense analyst, says: “When a satellite liquid propulsion engine is running at 67% of its full thrust, it is producing 67% of its maximum possible force. Throttling is the act of controlling the thrust level of the thruster by managing fuel flow rate By setting power to 67% the satellite can adjust its speed and trajectory, allowing precise corrections to its orbital trajectory The meaning of a 67% thrust level is design dependent of the engine and the prevailing conditions, but usually implies decreased thrust compared to what the engine is capable of achieving at full power”.

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The throttle period of a liquid propellant satellite engine refers to the amount of time during which the engine operates at reduced thrust. Throttling allows the speed and attitude of the spacecraft to be adjusted by changing the thrust level of the engine. The exact duration of the throttle can vary based on mission requirements and engine design. For example, a boost level of 67% can be sustained for 43 seconds.

The Center for Liquid Propulsion Systems has been conceptualizing and designing a series of liquid-fueled rocket engines known as VIKAS since the 1970s.

“Achieving 67 percent thrust for 43 seconds with a liquid propellant engine on a satellite can be an essential part of recovering a launch vehicle’s booster stage. This level of thrust and timing are precisely calculated. to ensure the booster has the necessary altitude and speed for a safe landing, and to save fuel for the primary mission.With precise control of the liquid propellant engine, a controlled descent is possible, reducing the danger of damaging the booster stage. reinforcement and increasing the probability of reuse for future missions,” he explains.

Note: The article was originally published in English in the Financial Express, and its reproduction in Spanish is done with the direct authorization of the author. Link to the original article:https://www.financialexpress.com/defence/a-new-milestone-for-indian-space-throttleable-vikas-engine-successfully-tested/2976567/

Huma Siddiqui

She is a senior journalist working at The Financial Express Publications. In a career spanning nearly three decades, she has covered diplomatic and strategic affairs, as well as the defense and aerospace sectors. She is an expert in Latin America and the Caribbean.