CE-20 cryogenic engine

Aug. 31, 2023

Indian Space Research Organisation’s Liquid Propulsion Research Centre (IPRC) in Mahendragiri has successfully tested the cryogenic rocket engine to be used in its ‘Mission Gaganyaan’.

About CE-20 cryogenic engine:

It has been designed and developed by the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), a subsidiary of ISRO.
It will power the Cryogenic Upper Stage of the LVM3launch vehicle.
ISRO will use it for its ‘Mission Gaganyaan’ for sending man to space in 2024.
It is the first Indian cryogenic engine to feature a gas-generator cycle.
It is one of the most powerful upper-stage cryogenic engines in the world.
This engine develops a nominal thrust of 186.36 kN in vacuum.

What is a Cryogenic stage?

The cryogenic stage is technically a very complex system due to its use of propellants at extremely low temperatures and the associated thermal and structural problems.
It uses liquid fuels (Oxygen liquifies at -183 deg C and Hydrogen at -253 deg C) that are cooled to very low temperatures.
A Cryogenic rocket stage is more efficient and provides more thrust for every kilogram of propellant it burns compared to solid and earth-storable liquid propellant rocket stages.

Source : CE-20 cryogenic rocket engine tested successfully