ISRO announced on Wednesday the successful human rating of its CE20 cryogenic engine, designated to power the cryogenic stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle for crewed Gaganyaan missions. The culmination of this process included the seventh and final round of ground qualification tests conducted on February 13 at ISRO’s Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri. These tests, comprising vacuum ignition tests mimicking flight conditions, along with life demonstration, endurance, and performance assessments under various scenarios, validated the engine’s reliability. The Gaganyaan mission aims to showcase ISRO’s prowess in human spaceflight, intending to launch a crew into a 400-kilometer orbit for a three-day mission before safely returning them to Earth, with the spacecraft touching down in Indian waters.
The Gaganyaan program reached a significant milestone in October of last year with its inaugural test flight, the TV-D1 mission, which focused on validating the mission’s Crew Escape System. This system plays a critical role in ensuring astronaut safety by providing a means to swiftly distance them from the launch vehicle in the event of a malfunction during the mission.
Currently, countries with established human spaceflight capabilities include the United States, Russia, and China, primarily through their respective national space agencies. However, there is a growing interest from non-governmental private companies in venturing into space exploration. SpaceX notably stands out, having conducted numerous missions to the International Space Station, while other private entities eagerly await their turn to contribute to space exploration efforts.
In October last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed even greater ambitions for ISRO, tasking it with establishing an Indian space station by 2035 and achieving the historic feat of landing the first Indian on the moon by 2040.
