CE-20 Cryogenic Engine Testing
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has achieved great success under its Moon Mission Chandrayaan-3. According to ISRO, the launch vehicle's CE-20 cryogenic engine was successfully tested for the Chandrayaan-3 mission. ISRO informed that on February 24, the flight acceptance heat test was conducted for a specified duration of 25 seconds at the High Altitude Launch Center of ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.
What is cryogenic engine?
Cryogenic Engine: The Greek word "kiros" (cold or freezing) and "zen" is the root of the word "cryogenic" (burning or produced). A cryogenic engine is a rocket engine that runs on cryogenic fuel and oxidizer, both liquefied gases formed at very low temperatures. Cryogenic technology is the use of rocket propellants at extremely low temperatures.
Cryogenic propellants are a significantly more complex technology than solid or liquid propellant (Earth-living) stages because they use propellants at much lower temperatures. Compared to other types of propellants, such as solid and liquid propellant rocket engines, a cryogenic engine is more efficient and produces more thrust per cryogenic propellant consumption.
Chandrayaan-3
In the initial part of the flight, the LVM-3 rocket's first stage 'S200' and second stage 'L110' will lift the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft off the ground and into space. Thereafter, CE-20 will be responsible for further accelerating the Chandrayaan-3 module into space and extracting it from 'Earth orbit'.
Where the spacecraft revolves around the earth with variation in its distance from the earth. ISRO refers to the Chandrayaan-3 launch mission as LVM3-M4. This is the fourth operational launch of LVM3, which is India's heaviest and largest rocket.