ISRO is developing a high thrust cryogenic engine (CE20) for its heavy lift launch vehicle GSLV Mk-upper III's stage. With a particular impulse of 434 seconds, this high thrust cryogenic engine delivers a nominal thrust of 196.5 kN in vacuum. The engine operates on a "Gas Generator Cycle," which allows for separate development of each sub-system prior to the integrated engine test, saving development time and lowering uncertainty in the final developing phase.
This engine produces almost 2 MW of power, compared to 1 MW from the GSLV's Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) engine. The high thrust cryogenic engine is one of the world's most powerful upper-stage cryogenic engines.
ISRO has accomplished a key milestone by successfully testing an indigenous high thrust cryogenic engine at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri on April 28, 2015 at 1657 Hrs for 635 seconds. During the testing, all of the propulsion parameters were determined to be good and closely corresponded with forecasts. This ground test was preceded by four short duration tests of 5.5, 7.5, 20, and 30 seconds in the previous several weeks.
Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Valiamala designed and built the high thrust cryogenic engine with the help of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram. ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) at Mahendragiri handles engine assembly, integration, and testing. Indian industries have played a key role in the development of the cryogenic engine.
While ground testing have confirmed the integrated engine's design adequacy and performance, more demonstration tests at the engine and stage level are planned to characterize the various performance characteristics under varied operating situations.
The indigenous high thrust cryogenic engine and stage will be flight tested in the GSLV Mk- III-D1 mission when the testing are completed.
