WATCH VIDEO: Indian Space Start-Up 'Skyroot' Tests Rocket Engine, Targets Maiden Launch By Year End
In terms of specifications, this stage of Vikram-1 (pictured above) produces a peak vacuum
thrust of 100 kN (nearly 10 Tons) and has a burn time of 108 sec
For a fledgling rocket company, every single test of a rocket engine is a
crucial step toward developing an operational spacefaring rocket. Indian
start-up, Skyroot Aerospace has crossed yet another milestone in developing
its maiden rocket Vikram-1, by designing, developing and completing the
successful test-firing of its third-stage engine, all within the Indian
private sector. Vikram-1 is a four-stage rocket, where the first three stages
are powered by solid fuel and the final stage by a liquid-fuel engine.
Watch here...
#Indian Space startup @SkyrootA successfully test fired 3rd stage engine(Solid-fuel) of their maiden rocket Vikram-1
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) May 19, 2022
Named Kalam-100, the engine produces a peak vacuum thrust of 100kN(10Tons) & has a burn time of 108 sec@PawanKChandana told me Eng 1&2 mfg is on, launch by Dec22 pic.twitter.com/HHQo6CAxKV
So far, Skyroot has completed the tests of its fourth stage(liquid-fuel)
engine and now the third stage engine. According to the company, their
third-stage engine was named ‘Kalam-100’, after rocket scientist and former
Indian President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
In terms of specifications, this stage of Vikram-1 produces a peak vacuum
thrust of 100 kN (nearly 10Tons) and has a burn time of 108 sec. The rocket
stage is built with a high-strength Carbon fiber structure, solid fuel,
EPDM(ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber) thermal protection system, and
carbon ablative nozzle. It’s a highly reliable stage with no moving parts and
a high level of automation in manufacturing.
Queried about the other tests pending for Vikram-1 and their status, Pawan K
Chandana, CO-Founder and CEO of Skyroot told WION that their first and second
stage engines were being manufactured and are expected to be tested in the
coming months. "So far, we have tested one solid engine and one liquid engine.
We are most confident about the solid-fuel engine because the second stage and
first stage engine are merely larger versions of the third stage engine. Since
the initial engines (one and two) are larger and take longer to develop, we
chose to develop them last" he explained.
The company had hoped to perform a demo launch by 2021-end, however, that did
not materialize owing to the COVID-induced disruption. Now, they have revised
the maiden launch timeline for the end of 2022, whereas a launch of Customer
satellites is planned for early-2023. Pawan also confirmed that the company
had signed a few customers for having their satellites launched on Skyroot's
Vikram-1 rocket.
For their advanced and larger rockets, Vikram 2&3, Skyroot is making
improvements on their existing cryogenic engine(fuelled by super cooled
hydrogen and oxygen) and are hoping to test-fire later this year. If the
company are to meet their target and launch in 2023, it could be a significant
development in the private aerospace sector, as they would be achieving the
feat, barely five years after starting off. They hope to launch their rocket
from India's spaceport Satish Dhawan Space Centre, operated by the state-run
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
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