ISRO to test indigenously developed scramjet engine

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is going to test indigenously developed scramjet engine technology based on air-breathing propulsion in July 2016.
The test will be conducted on test platform named Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.
Key Facts

• The test platform ATV will comprise a scramjet engine hitched to a two-stage sounding rocket (RH- 560).
• The vehicle has been characterised and being fabricated at the VSSC (Vikram Sarabhai Space Center) and the ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri.
• The air-breathing engine of ATV will be released at a height of 70 km and ignited at hypersonic speed during the coasting phase.
• Apart from the hypersonic ignition at Mach 6, ATV’s capability to sustain the combustion for 5 seconds will be also tested.
• The test is expected to help ISRO to achieve good thrust value with the scramjet engine as maintaining combustion in hypersonic conditions poses technical challenges.

Comment
This test will be further advance stage of the successful test of the first indigenous Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) conducted in May 2016. The post-flight analysis of RLV-TD test flight had shown encouraging results that had helped ISRO to understand the hypersonic aerothermodynamics of the delta winged body.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2016