ISRO Successfully Tested Indigenous Cryogenic Engine CE-20 with Four-Ton Capacity

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully tested an indigenous cryogenic engine CE-20 at Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. Cryogenic engine CE-20 will carry up to the capacity of four tonnes in geostationary orbit. The engine will also give boost to India՚s interplanetary probes and manned space missions. This development marks a milestone in the country՚s effort to develop a big cryogenic engine to fly satellites of up to five tonnes. Earlier, Russia given cryogenic engines which India՚s GSLV powered the engine.

  • A cryogenic engine uses Hydrogen as fuel which stored at minus 253 degrees Celsius and liquid oxygen as oxidizer at minus 183 degrees Celsius.
  • Engine CE-20 is essential to master this technology for any space power as launching heavier satellites requires cryogenic engines even in the lower stages of the rocket.
  • Engine CE-20 can develop the thrust needed in the final state of the rocket to put satellites, weighing two tonnes or more, into a geosynchronous orbit. But at present, India can only launch satellites of up to two tonnes.
  • The first success came in January 2014 when India successfully launched GSLV-D5. India has been on a long arduous journey to develop an operational indigenous cryogenic engine which began around 30 years ago.

Examrace Team at Aug 21, 2021