ISRO's efforts to develop a semi-cryogenic engine to power future inter-planetary missions on Friday got a boost as the government sanctioned Rs 1,798 crore for the initiative to be completed within six years.
India will become the third country, after the US and Russia, to have developed the advanced propulsion system which will be used to launch space shuttles and future space missions.
The Union Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, approved development of semi-cryogenic engine technology at an estimated cost of Rs 1,798 crore with a foreign exchange component of Rs 588 crore, Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters.
The objective is designing, fabricating and testing this advanced technology in India in six years time, which will be a key step towards self-reliance in advanced space transportation technology for the country, he said.
"The semi-cryogenic engine will facilitate applications for future space missions such as the Reusable Launch Vehicle, Unified Launch Vehicle and vehicle for interplanetary missions," Chidambaram said.
The semi-cryogenic engines using liquid oxygen and kerosene are considered relatively environment friendly, non-toxic and non-corrosive.
The propellants for such engines are safer to handle and store and also reduce the cost of launch operations.
After the successful launch of Chandrayaan-I, ISRO is now planning to send an Indian in space, a mission to Mars, flyby mission to asteroids and comets
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment