The flight acceptance hot test of the CE-20 cryogenic engine that will power the Cryogenic Upper Stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle for the Chandrayaan-3 Mission was successfully conducted on February 24, 2023 at the ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.
Key points
- The hot test was carried out for a planned duration of 25 seconds at the High Altitude Test Facility.
- All the propulsion parameters during the test were found satisfactory and closely matched with predictions.
- The cryogenic engine will be further integrated with the propellant tanks, stage structures and associated fluid lines to realise the fully integrated flight cryogenic stage.
- The cryogenic upper stage of the LVM3 vehicle (C25 stage) is powered by a CE-20 engine working with the LOX-LH2 propellants combination. This engine develops a nominal thrust of 186.36 kN in vacuum.
- A hot test is an assessment of an engine’s performance which replicates conditions that occur when it is running in a real vehicle. It evaluates all the parameters which are necessary to make sure the engine is running properly.
- ISRO is in the process of planning a third lunar expedition, Chandrayaan-3, which will be similar to Chandrayaan-2. However, Chandrayaan-3 will not include an orbiter in its mission.
- Chandrayaan-3 is expected to be launched between June and July 2023 and will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota using an LVM3 rocket.
- The lunar rover, lander, and propulsion module which will be part of the mission will be aiming for the same landing site on the Moon’s South Polar Region which was attempted by the Vikram lander in Chandrayaan-2’s mission in 2019.
