ISRO completes ground trials of hyperplane engine
Monday April 5 2004 13:06 IST
KOCHI: After the US successfully flew its first hypersonic jet, it’s now India’s turn to test its air-breathing propulsion system.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has completed the ground-level trials of the air-breathing engine and is preparing to move into more advanced stages of development. Top sources told this newspaper that the ISRO would be able to launch the first technology-demonstrator within two years.
Special teams have been formed to prepare the indigenous system for its first flight. ‘‘We plan to put it on a sounding rocket instead of carrying it on an aircraft like NASA. The module will be launched at a height of 20-25 km at a speed of about Mach 6. It will draw oxygen from the atmosphere and convert it into fuel for further propulsion,’’ top sources said.
Through the Air-Breathing Propulsion Project (ABPP), being undertaken in Thiruvananthapuram, Indian space research will join the league of the US. Though many other countries attempted the concept, none had been successful.
‘‘We are happy with the ground tests. The system produced desirable floor rates. Next round of experiments will be held at the National Aeronautical Laboratory, Bangalore,’’ sources said.
The ISRO will also send a special team to the Liquid Propulsion Centre, Mahendragiri, for a crucial phase of the project. ‘‘This is injection of hydrogen into the system. During its supersonic flight, the technology will breath in oxygen. This will be mixed with hydrogen on board to create fuel for forward manoeuvres,’’ sources said.
The ABPP, also known as hyperplane, is intended at providing a most-efficient, technologically-reliable and cost-effective space launch system.
‘‘We have adopted a step by step approach. And the first strides have been quite satisfactory,’’ said G.Madhavan Nair, ISRO chairman. ‘‘The engine module has been satisfactorily tested at ground level. We are indeed hopeful of flying it in another 18 months’ time,’’ he said.
The ISRO is aiming to touch Mach 6 during the first flight. ‘‘We have demands for achieving Mach 10. This is, perhaps, the first step,’’ Madhavan Nair said.
The idea of using a two-stage sounding rocket is also to keep the costs down. The system may be accommodated in the second stage of the rocket that will effectively take it up to 25-km height. ‘‘The scientists have been able to hold combustion effectively. This, itself, is a significant landmark or a strong foundation for us to build further,’’ sources said.
India plans to use the hyperplane for cheaper satellite launches. A similar project, titled Avatar, is also being undertaken by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). ‘‘Any rocket system will have military use also. So it’s not surprising,’’ sources quipped.
Link
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IER20040405024554&Page=R&Title=Kerala&Topic=0&
Monday April 5 2004 13:06 IST
KOCHI: After the US successfully flew its first hypersonic jet, it’s now India’s turn to test its air-breathing propulsion system.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has completed the ground-level trials of the air-breathing engine and is preparing to move into more advanced stages of development. Top sources told this newspaper that the ISRO would be able to launch the first technology-demonstrator within two years.
Special teams have been formed to prepare the indigenous system for its first flight. ‘‘We plan to put it on a sounding rocket instead of carrying it on an aircraft like NASA. The module will be launched at a height of 20-25 km at a speed of about Mach 6. It will draw oxygen from the atmosphere and convert it into fuel for further propulsion,’’ top sources said.
Through the Air-Breathing Propulsion Project (ABPP), being undertaken in Thiruvananthapuram, Indian space research will join the league of the US. Though many other countries attempted the concept, none had been successful.
‘‘We are happy with the ground tests. The system produced desirable floor rates. Next round of experiments will be held at the National Aeronautical Laboratory, Bangalore,’’ sources said.
The ISRO will also send a special team to the Liquid Propulsion Centre, Mahendragiri, for a crucial phase of the project. ‘‘This is injection of hydrogen into the system. During its supersonic flight, the technology will breath in oxygen. This will be mixed with hydrogen on board to create fuel for forward manoeuvres,’’ sources said.
The ABPP, also known as hyperplane, is intended at providing a most-efficient, technologically-reliable and cost-effective space launch system.
‘‘We have adopted a step by step approach. And the first strides have been quite satisfactory,’’ said G.Madhavan Nair, ISRO chairman. ‘‘The engine module has been satisfactorily tested at ground level. We are indeed hopeful of flying it in another 18 months’ time,’’ he said.
The ISRO is aiming to touch Mach 6 during the first flight. ‘‘We have demands for achieving Mach 10. This is, perhaps, the first step,’’ Madhavan Nair said.
The idea of using a two-stage sounding rocket is also to keep the costs down. The system may be accommodated in the second stage of the rocket that will effectively take it up to 25-km height. ‘‘The scientists have been able to hold combustion effectively. This, itself, is a significant landmark or a strong foundation for us to build further,’’ sources said.
India plans to use the hyperplane for cheaper satellite launches. A similar project, titled Avatar, is also being undertaken by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). ‘‘Any rocket system will have military use also. So it’s not surprising,’’ sources quipped.
Link
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IER20040405024554&Page=R&Title=Kerala&Topic=0&
