“ISRO Achieves Milestone with Successful Testing of 3D-Printed Rocket Engine”
India’s space agency, ISRO, has reached a significant milestone with the successful hot testing of a liquid rocket engine manufactured using advanced additive manufacturing (AM) techniques, commonly known as 3D printing. This achievement marks a major breakthrough in space technology and manufacturing efficiency.
India’s space agency, ISRO, has reached a significant milestone with the successful hot testing of a liquid rocket engine manufactured using advanced additive manufacturing (AM) techniques, commonly known as 3D printing. This achievement marks a major breakthrough in space technology and manufacturing efficiency.
The hot testing, conducted for a duration of 665 seconds on May 9, demonstrated the capabilities of the new engine designed for ISRO’s PS4 upper stage. This engine, now crafted as a single piece through 3D printing, represents a paradigm shift in rocket engine production.
The re-designed engine, developed by ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), has revolutionized manufacturing processes by saving 97% of raw materials and reducing production time by 60%. The Laser Powder Bed Fusion technique utilized in the AM process has streamlined the engine’s design, consolidating 14 parts into a single unit and eliminating 19 weld joints.
The advantages of this new engine extend beyond efficiency gains. The use of earth-storable bipropellant combinations and the Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) concept have optimized performance parameters, enhancing thrust capabilities and operational reliability.
The successful hot testing at ISRO’s Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, followed extensive developmental work, including detailed modeling, simulation, and characterization tests. Four developmental hot tests and a full qualification test of 665 seconds validated the engine’s performance, meeting or exceeding expectations.
Moving forward, ISRO plans to integrate this AM PS4 engine into its regular Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) program, underscoring the agency’s commitment to innovation and technological advancement in space exploration.
Sources By Agencies
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