New Delhi: Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited, a Hyderabad-based space startup, completed a successful rocket-engine test at ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu on July 21, 2023. IN-SPACe allowed for the testing to take place.
ISRO supported the testing of the Raman-II engine developed by @skyrootA at its rocket-engine testing facility at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri, demonstrating its commitment to fostering the space ecosystem in India.
The engine test was successful.… pic.twitter.com/EKsUv8lOFG
— ISRO (@isro) July 22, 2023
That test was conducted in the Liquid Thruster Test Facility in ISRO Propulsion Complex, and it involved the Raman-II engine. The Raman-II engine was designed by Skyroot Aerospace to generate 1,460 Newton (Vacuum) and 820 Newton (Sea Level) thrust, and it had a nominal chamber pressure of 8.5 bar absolute, according to a statement issued by ISRO’s Bengaluru-based headquarters yesterday. In the fourth stage of Skyroot’s launch vehicle, which is known as the Vikram-I, the company intends to install the Raman-II engine.
The nitrogen tetroxide and mono-methyl hydrazine that serve as the fuel for the engine is cooled by the process of regenerative cooling and is produced using additive manufacturing methods. The declaration indicated that the performance goals for the test with a duration of ten seconds had been met in terms of the start transient, steady state, and shut-off.
The statement released by ISRO indicates that the testing facility’s systems operated normally during the test and were able to fulfil the requirements for the engine’s intake conditions at T0. In addition, the performance of the instrumentation equipment was as predicted, which further ensured the accuracy and consistency of the test findings, the report said.
IPRC facilitated the second test of the Raman-II engine today.
The engine performed satisfactorily during this 100 seconds test.
Modification in the fuel injection enabled the attainment of 7 bar absolute pressure.
Both the test facilities and instrumentation systems performed… pic.twitter.com/GO0Tjp40Ew— ISRO (@isro) July 22, 2023
ISRO has remarked that this support demonstrates the organization’s dedication to encouraging private companies, startups, and Non-Governmental Organizations and Entities to contribute to the growth of India’s space ecosystem.
Future testing is intended to further verify and hone the Raman-II engine’s performance.
