DHAWAN-1: SKYROOT TEST-FIRES INDIA’S FIRST PRIVATELY BUILT CRYOGENIC ROCKET ENGINE
Key Points
- Skyroot Aerospace demonstrated the upper stage of its Vikram-2 launch vehicle.
- The cryogenic rocket engine is 100 per cent 3D printed and 100 percent made in India.
- It has been named after Satish Dhawan, who was the third chairman of ISRO. He pioneered the development of advanced launch capabilities of India.
The Vikram Rocket
- Vikram Rocket has been named after pioneering Vikram Sarabhai, who kickstarted the ambitious space program in India. He also conducted advanced nuclear research.
- The rocket uses a combination of Liquid Natural Gas, which is more than 90 per cent methane.
- Liquid Natural Gas is used in combination with Liquid Oxygen. In Combined form, it is called as “Methalox”, which form a cryogenic rocket fuel.
- The combination provides for high performance and is having low cost. The fuel is environmentally friendly.
- Thus, leading this fuel is dubbed as “Fuel of the future” by the Skyroot Aerospace engineers.
Dhawan-1 engine
- Dhawan-1 engine comprises of a vacuum thrust of about 1.5kN. Engine was tested on a specially constructed testbed at Solar Industries in Nagpur. The engine is the upper stage of Vikram-2 launch vehicle.
- It uses environment friendly combinations called LNG and LOX. It is entirely 3D printed. Engine has been named in honour of Satish Dhawan.