ISRO completes key test, CE20 cryogenic engine is now human-rated for Gaganyaan missions

Subject: Science and tech

Section: Space tech

Context:

Isro has accomplished the human rating of its cryogenic engine (CE20), which powers the cryogenic stage of the human-rated LVM3 launcher for India’s first human space flight mission Gaganyaan.

More on news:

ISRO’s CE20 cryogenic engine is now human-rated for Gaganyaan missions. Rigorous testing demonstrates the engine’s mettle.
The CE20 engine identified for the first uncrewed flight LVM3 G1 also went through acceptance tests.
Human-rating refers to rating a system that is capable of safely transporting humans.
The final test was carried out on February 13.
It was the seventh in a series of vacuum ignition tests carried out at the High Altitude Test Facility at ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri, to simulate flight conditions.

About CE20 cryogenic engine:

The CE-20 is an indigenous cryogenic engine ISRO developed to use with the GSLV Mk III, now called the LVM-3, launch vehicle.
It represents an improvement on the CE-7.5 cryogenic engine and is instrumental to ISRO successfully realizing its human spaceflight, a.k.a. Gaganyaan, mission.
The CE-20 engine uses the gas-generator cycle, which discards the exhaust from the pre-burner instead of sending it to the combustion chamber.
This reduces fuel efficiency but, importantly for ISRO, makes the CE-20 engine easier to build and test.
The CE20 engine is a vital component, serving as the powerhouse of the Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) responsible for propelling the upper stage (C25) of the LVM3 vehicle.
While the CE-7.5 engine is lighter and sports higher fuel-use efficiency, the CE-20 engine achieves a higher maximum thrust (~200 kilonewton v. 73.5 kilonewton) with a shorter burn duration.
It has demonstrated its capability by successfully operating at a thrust level of 19 tonnes in six successive LVM3 missions, including the Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and two commercial OneWeb missions.
The ground qualification tests for the human rating of the CE20 engine involved life demonstration tests, endurance tests, and performance assessment under nominal operating conditions as well as off-nominal conditions w.r.t thrust, mixture ratio, and propellant tank pressure.

Updates on first unmanned Gaganyaan (G1) mission:

ISRO has also successfully completed the acceptance tests of the flight engine identified for the first unmanned Gaganyaan (G1) mission, tentatively scheduled for Q2 of 2024.
This engine will power the upper stage of the human-rated LVM3 vehicle and has a thrust capability of 19 to 22 tonnes with a specific impulse of 442.5 seconds.
This engine will power the upper stage of the human-rated LVM3 vehicle and has a thrust capability of 19 to 22 tonnes with a specific impulse of 442.5 seconds.

About Gaganyaan Mission:

Gaganyaan is a mission by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
Under the Gaganyaan schedule:
- Three flights will be sent into orbit.
- There will be two unmanned flights and one human spaceflight.
The Gaganyaan system module, called the Orbital Module will have three Indian astronauts, including a woman.
It will circle Earth at a low-earth-orbit at an altitude of 300-400 km from earth for 5-7 days.
Payloads:
- Crew module –spacecraft carrying human beings.
- Service module –powered by two liquid propellant engines.
- It will be equipped with emergency escape and emergency mission abort.
GSLV Mk III, also called the LVM-3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3,)the three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle, will be used to launch Gaganyaan as it has the necessary payload capability.