At a time when the country is getting ready to send its first-ever human spaceflight mission into orbit by December, 2021, ISRO’s Chairman, Dr Kailasavadivoo Sivan has made a startling revelation to the mainstream media on India’s future endeavours in the domain. In an interview with IANS, he confirmed that Russia had finally offered the much-awaited semi-cryogenic rocket engine technology to India. “Russia is offering its semi-cryogenic engine technology to India under the ‘Make in India’ programme. The rocket engines could be made in India and used in our rockets,” Dr Sivan dropped the bombshell. When asked about a prospective partnership with Russia for sourcing of critical components for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission, he said, “The discussions are on. Nothing has been finalised. We have to see whether we need to buy their components. The components have to be suitable for us.” Meanwhile, Russia’s state-run space agency- Roscosmos has also sent out a press statement expressing its intent to collaborate with India in the spheres of piloted spaceflight, satellite navigation and engine technology.
The evolution of high-thrust engines
Semi-cryogenic engines hold the key towards the development of a fullfledged super-heavy lift capability. While traditional cryogenic boosters of rockets use liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen as fuel, semi-cryogenic engines burn liquid oxygen mixed with kerosene (refined petroleum) which provides more thrust in the vacuum of space. Semi-cryogenic boosters significantly increase a rocket’s range, velocity and payload capacity which gives the user the option of launching heavier payloads directly into higher orbits. While India started working on indigenous cryogenic engines since the mid-1990s under the technology denial regime, the country’s space programme has come a long way with the evolution of CE-7.5 and CE-20 engines.
This story is from the September 2019 edition of Geopolitics.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2019 edition of Geopolitics.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Unending War In Ukraine
Is Russia's War in Ukraine following a script or it is lost in direction? RAVI SRIVASTAVA attempts to answer
THE NARCOTICS MENACE
International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) 2023 Annual Report, prepared in accordance with the international drug control treaties, examines the global drug control situation and makes recommendations to governments and regional and international organizations. It focuses on the role of the Internet, including social media, in JALLAL TOUFIQ, President of the INCB, explores the challenges and opportunities for drug control, prevention, and treatment in the era of the Internet, with a landscape of online drug
DEALING WITH THE DRAGON
Not Containing, but Countering China, in the Indo-Pacific is now the norm of all the leading countries of the region, writes CHINTAMANI MAHAPATRA
INDIA MUST RESUME NUCLEAR TESTING
India has to conduct open ended nuclear tests to secure a modicum of data, which will be infinitely more accurate than information derived from inertial confinement fusion facility (ICF) and supercomputer simulations.
ASYMMETRIC MARITIME THREATS & CHALLENGES
VENUGOPAL MENON explains why and how it is imperative to counter asymmetric threats in the maritime domain in India's area of interest
DRDO'S MPATGM
Indian Army gets more teeth for Anti-Tank Warfare, reports GIRISH LINGANNA
SMART AND LETHAL WEAPONS: THE PATH TO 2029
India must tread the path towards development of a whole gamut of next-generation smart and lethal weapons for countering a two-front threat scenario, argues AMARTYA SINHA
ROHDE & SCHWARZ EXPANDS FOOTPRINT IN INDIA BY OPENING NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY IN DELHI
In a strategic move to amplify its offerings and reinforce its market presence, Rohde & Schwarz India (RSINDIA), a subsidiary of the global technology group Rohde & Schwarz GmbH KG & Co, has officially inaugurated a new facility, aiming to significantly enhance its service offerings in the Indian market. The expansion heralds a pivotal moment in RSINDIA'S history, with its Managing Director, YATISH MOHAN, alongside key figures from the R&S Global Office including DR. ALEXANDER ORELLANO, Executive Vice President, and RALF WATAMANIUK, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, providing insights into the company's steady climb to prominence.
SUBMARINE-KILLER CAPABILITY: SMART MISSILE TESTED SUCCESSFULLY
The supersonic missile-assisted torpedo (SMART) system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was successfully test-launched from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha on May 1. The test confirmed velocity control, ejection, and symmetric separation.
India's space economy set to soar
India's burgeoning space economy could see a substantial increase in its global share by 2040. At present, India's space sector contributes a modest $8 billion to the overall cake. However, the government has set its sights on an ambitious target, aiming for a five-fold surge in India's share of the global space economy.