ISRO Launches an Indigenous Cryo Engined Rocket

SRIHARIKOTA: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 8th September, 2016 flew to greater heights when its GSLV-F05 rocket, powered by an indigenous cryogenic engine, successfully launched a two-tonne class meteorological satellite, the INSAT-3DR, into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

This is the third successive launch powered by an indigenous cryogenic stage, one of three engines on the GSLV rocket, the other two being solid and liquid fueled stages. The rocket lifted off at 4:50 P.M., after ISRO delayed the launch by 40 minutes due to an ‘anomaly’ it found at the last minute. The GSLV-F05 rose into sky with a deep growl, breaking free from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

isro-gslv-f05
The GSLV rising into the space today from ISRO

The 49.1 metre tall rocket, weighing 415.2 tonnes, rapidly rose towards the sky spewing a thick orange plume. The rocket helped put the INSAT-3DR satellite, a weather satellite that can also aid in search and rescue (SAR) operations, into a GTO around 17 minutes into the flight.

So what’s the big deal you ask? 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. However, cryogenic stage is technically a very complex system compared to solid or earth storable liquid propellant stages due to its use of propellants at extremely low temperatures and the associated thermal and structural problems.

cryogenic engine

ISRO scientist have once again outdone themselves and we are proud to see another star put in the space by our Indian intellectuals. Hoping to see more such miracles from them. Kudos!

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