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Cryogenic Engine - Importance of
Cryogenic Engine - Importance of
This year is very important for all of us.(but for IAS/UPSC aspirant every year is
important..jab tak selection na ho jaye)..this year is the 100th anniversary of first world war,
also 100th anniversary of komagatamaru incident, Simla accord (history examples because I am
having history optional, :))
As I am having history optional, lets start with indias struggle for..(I know, sabke
dimaag mai independence aa raha hoga)NO WAY. Everybody knows that, lets start with
A cryogenic engine, which uses liquid oxygen at -253 degrees Celsius and liquid hydrogen at -
183 degrees Celsius, can develop the thrust needed in the final state of the rocket to put satellites,
weighing two tonnes(bole to around 2000kg) or more, into a geosynchronous orbit.
The story of India's struggle with the cryogenic engine is linked to the disintegration of the
erstwhile Soviet Union in 1991, the year in which India was to receive the technology from the
Russians.
There was an agreement between INDIA and Soviet Union that soviet union would transfer the
technology to India and provide three cryogenic engines. However, after the disintegration of
USSR, Russia went back on the pact in 1993 and, under pressure from US, refused to part with
the technology.
( take it from me india will also become superpower by 2020, .hmmmm actually by
20020) just kidding..:)
However, Russia agreed to provide four more fully made cryogenic engines, taking the number
of such engines in India's kitty to seven. In 2010, Isro thought it was finally ready.
On April 15, GSLV-D 3 lifted off carrying GSAT-4, but the engine failed 800 milliseconds after
ignition. (rocket ki hawa nikal gayee)
For the next launch, Isro decided to use one of the last two Russian engines, but again tragedy
struck when liquid fuel boosters failed. GSLV remained cursed as another attempt to launch it
using an indigenous cryogenic engine had to be aborted in August 18, 2013 after a leak was
detected in a liquid fuel tank.
The repeated failures of the GSLV had confused ISRO engineers as well as rocket.:(
Three years ago, ISRO put everything behind the GSLV and conducted a thorough review.
It created special facilities and put a rigorous test regime in place. No ISRO launch vehicle has
been tested as thoroughly as the GSLV-D5.
(Ae haar tu kab tak aayegi, ek din tu bhi mujhse (ISRO) se haar jayegi)
FINALLY, For a nation that has battled with highend cryogenics for two decades,
January 5 marked the triumphant end of a long wait, one propelled by resilience in the face of
repeated failures.
ISRO's GSLV-D5 rocket, powered by an indigenous cryogenic engine, injected into orbit a
telecommunication satellite, GSAT-14.)
CONCLUSION
By mastering this technology which is essential for any space power as launching heavier
satellites requires cryogenic engines even in the lower stages of the rocket,
India has become the sixth after US, Russia, the European Space Agency, China and Japan to
develop a cryogenic engine a prerequisite for interplanetary probes and manned space
missions. JAI HIND
NIKHILESH KATARE