Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Muskan Arora
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a significant milestone in rocket engine technology by developing a lightweight Carbon-Carbon (C-C) nozzle for rocket engines, marking a breakthrough in the field.
Source: ISRO
ISRO's innovation, accomplished by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), aims to enhance crucial parameters of rocket engines, including thrust levels, specific impulse, and thrust-to-weight ratios. This advancement is expected to boost the payload capacity of launch vehicles.
The VSSC has utilized advanced materials such as Carbon-Carbon (C-C) Composites to create a nozzle divergent with exceptional properties, offering low density, high specific strength, and excellent stiffness.
Source: ISRO
Through processes like carbonization of green composites, Chemical Vapor Infiltration, and High-Temperature Treatment, the space centre has produced a nozzle capable of retaining mechanical properties even at elevated temperatures.
A key feature of the C-C nozzle is its special anti-oxidation coating of Silicon Carbide, extending operational limits in oxidising environments and enhancing corrosion resistance.
This development holds significant implications for ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), particularly for its fourth stage, PS4. By replacing metallic divergent nozzles with C-C counterparts, a notable mass reduction of around 67 per cent can be achieved, thereby increasing payload capability by 15 kg.
ISRO conducted a series of hot tests, including a 60-second test on March 19 and a 200-second test on April 2, 2024, at the High-Altitude Test (HAT) facility in ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri, confirming the nozzle's performance and hardware integrity.
Source: ISRO
The Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) at Valiamala in Kerala designed and configured the tests, while IPRC in Mahendragiri executed the tests at their HAT facility, showcasing collaborative efforts within ISRO.
ISRO's breakthrough in boosting rocket capacity marks a significant step forward in India's space exploration endeavours, with potential implications for future missions and advancements in rocket technology.