Gaganyaan: Vikas engine completes 25-sec test, 3 more to go

BENGALURU: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Thursday said it successfully completed a 25-seconds qualification test of the high thrust Vikas engine for the Gaganyaan programme at the Isro Propulsion Complex (IPRC) at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.
“With regard to the Vikas engine qualification for the Gaganyaan programme, two engines have already undergone tests under nominal operating conditions for a total duration of 480 seconds.The test carried out today is to verify the robustness of the engine by operating beyond its nominal operating conditions (fuel-oxidiser ratio and chamber pressure),” the space agency said.
The performance of the engine, it added, met the test objectives and the engine parameters were closely matching with the predictions during the entire duration of the test. This is another milestone in the human-rating of systems and the launch vehicle for the human space programme.
“Further, three more tests are planned for a cumulative duration of 75 seconds under varying operating conditions. Subsequently, another high thrust Vikas engine will undergo a long-duration test for 240 seconds to complete the Vikas engine qualification for Gaganyaan programme,” Isro added.
Just last week, the space agency had conducted a 720-seconds qualification test of the cryogenic engine — CE-20 — to be used for Gaganyaan and as reported by TOI earlier, tests are in progress for human-rated engines, cryogenic stage, crew escape system motors and service module propulsion system. The S200 motor has been realised for ground testing too. Main parachute drop test has also commenced.
Isro, sources said, is confident of at least one uncrewed mission in 2022 even as the target is to launch two such missions this year.
Isro chairman S Somanath had told TOI last week that the human rating process was still in the sub-system testing phase and had not reached the integrated-level testing phase. “...Testing of systems will be a continuous process and will continue during the whole cycle of the Gaganyaan programme,” he had said.