ISRO: ISRO successfully tests CE20 cryogenic engine, paves way for Gaganyaan mission

Demonstrating its advanced engineering capabilities, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday announced that it has achieved a key milestone in its space programme with the successful sea-level hot test of the CE20 Cryogenic Engine which has been developed indigenously. The space agency conducted the tests late last month on November 29 in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu and announced its success post analyses.

“The C20 cryogenic engine successfully passes a critical test in ambient condition, featuring restart enabling systems-a vital step for future missions,” ISRO said on X. The CE20 engine powers the upper stage of ISRO’s LVM3 launch vehicle, which has played a pivotal role in missions like Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and is expected to be integral for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission, India’s first human spaceflight attempt.

According to ISRO so far the engine has successfully powered the upper stage of six LVM3 missions. For the Gaganyaan mission, its usage will help in enhancing the payload capability of the launch vehicle.

The space agency in a statement explained that, “Testing the CE20 engine at sea level poses considerable challenges. This test was done with a multi-element ignitor and water injection system at nozzle divergent to prevent flow separation.” It added that an innovative Nozzle Protection System was devised that has paved the way for “a cost-effective and less complex procedure for acceptance testing of the cryogenic engines.”

“Restarting a cryogenic engine is a complex process. Major challenges are vacuum ignition without nozzle closure and use of multi-element igniter.” ISRO has demonstrated vacuum ignition of the CE20 engine without nozzle closure in earlier ground tests.