In contrast to solid-solid or liquid-liquid combinations, a hybrid motor makes use of solid fuel and a liquid oxidizer.
The national space agency of India is called the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and its headquarters are in Bangalore. ISRO is India’s main organization for carrying out tasks relating to space-based applications, space exploration, and the advancement of related technology.
The agency was founded in 1963, and since then, it has supported both civilian and military domains in a variety of areas, such as disaster management, telemedicine, navigation, and reconnaissance missions. Its programs and spin-off technologies have also made a significant contribution to India’s socioeconomic and industrial development. The Chairman of ISRO serves as the Executive of the Department of Space (DOS), which is also under the direct control of the Prime Minister of India.
A hybrid motor that was successfully tested by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) may lead to the development of a new propulsion system for the next launch vehicles. The Bengaluru-based space agency claimed that the 30 kN hybrid motor tested on Tuesday at the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu is stackable and scalable.
The ISRO Liquid Propulsion Systems Center provided support for the test (LPSC). Liquid oxygen (LOX) served as the oxidizer and hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) served as the fuel for the motor. A hybrid motor employs solid fuel and a liquid oxidizer, as opposed to solid-solid or liquid-liquid combinations, it was stated. “Today’s (Tuesday’s) test of a 30 kN hybrid motor showed ignition and sustained combustion for the anticipated 15 seconds. The motor performance was adequate”, according to a statement from ISRO.
Ammonium perchlorate is the oxidizer used in conventional HTPB-based solid propellant rocket motors. Oxidizers provide the oxygen necessary for combustion in rocket engines.
It was explained that using liquids makes throttling easier and that managing the flow rate of LOX makes it possible to restart. Both HTPB and LOX are environmentally friendly, but LOX is safer to handle, according to ISRO. “The hybrid motor tested today (Tuesday) is scalable and stackable, potentially paving the way for a new propulsion system for the forthcoming launch vehicles”, it said.
The technology demonstration paves the way for hybrid propulsion-based sounding rockets and an exciting platform for vertical landing experiments for spent-stage recovery, the VSSC said.
As part of perfecting the technology, ISRO will try it out on a sounding rocket launch in the future.
Importance Of The Hybrid Motor
Throttling, a term for the control of propellant flow rates via control valves, is made easier by the hybrid motor’s usage of liquids. Thus, in a liquid-propellant rocket engine, throttling refers to the regulation of thrust.
The ability of the motor to restart is made possible through control over the liquid oxygen flow rate. HTPB and liquid oxygen are both green. However, handling liquid oxygen is safer.
The hybrid motor’s benefits include being a safe propulsion system, ensuring environmentally friendly propulsion, and being the throttle and restartable.
The hybrid motor is “scalable and stackable,” according to ISRO, and may pave the way for a new propulsion technology for upcoming launch vehicles.
Chandrayaan 3
In the first quarter of 2024, the Chandrayaan 3 is scheduled to launch. The spacecraft will be a Chandrayaan 2 mission replica. It will only have a lander and rover that are the same as those on Chandrayaan-2. Even though the spacecraft won’t have an orbiter, its propulsion module will function like a communications relay satellite.
