Successful cryogenic engine start enables enhanced mission flexibility for ISRO

Successful cryogenic engine start enables enhanced mission flexibility for ISRO

ISRO has qualified the CE20 cryogenic engine for thrust levels between 19 and 22 tonnes for single-start flight operations, supporting demanding launch requirements for the LVM3 upper stage. The engine is certified for human-rated flights, such as the Gaganyaan missions, ensuring operational reliability under rigorous conditions. Traditionally, engine ignition is performed using propellant tank head pressure, followed by stored gas initiation of the turbopumps.

Upcoming missions will introduce a need for multiple in-flight restarts of the CE20 engine, supporting complex, multi-orbit satellite deployments. With the present restart system, each additional ignition relies on separate start-up gas bottles and har