ISRO Successfully Test-Fires Scramjet Rocket Engine Technology

The prestigious Indian Space Research Center of India tested it’s indigenous made Scramjet on 28 Aug 2016. With this India becomes the fourth country( after US, Russia and European Space Agency) to test fire the Scramjet Engine Technology so far. The jet’s journey lasted for 300 seconds and it ultimately dip into the Bay Of Bengal, around 300 Km from the point of launching at Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota.

What is a scram jet?

A scram jet is a modification of conventional jet engines that uses the atmospheric oxygen directly. In a conventional engine both hydrogen and oxygen is carried for combustion. Thus, scram jet saves from the extra load of carrying oxygen as it uses the atmospheric oxygen.

What is it’s benefit?

It is going to save a lot of money as payload required to carry oxygen is reduced. Scramjet engine is going to bring down the launch cost effectively.

It’s Limitations?

Oxygen is available only in the atmosphere, not outside of it. So, it can only be used in course of it’s journey to cross earth atmosphere and not in space. You must be knowing that the space is void of oxygen.

India Joins Elite Club Of Nations With Successful Scramjet Engine Test

India is the fourth country to demonstrate the flight testing of Scramjet Engine after the United States, Russia and European Space Agency.

The scramjet engine, used only during the atmospheric phase of the rocket’s flight, will help in bringing down the launch cost by reducing the amount of oxidiser to be carried along with the fuel.

President Pranab Mukherjee congratulated ISRO for the successful test launch. “Hearty congratulations ISRO on successful test of futuristic scramjet rocket engine, India is proud of you,” Mukherjee said in a tweet.

This is not India’s first venture into hypersonic flight or scramjet technology. DRDO has reportedly been working with NPO Mashinostroyenia of Russia to develop the second generation Brahmos cruise missile powered by a scramjet, dubbed the Brahmos-II. Brahmos-II is being designed to be capable of flying 300 odd kilometers at a speed of Mach 7.

Today, after a smooth countdown of 12 hours, the solid rocket booster carrying the scramjet engines, lifted off at 6:00 AM in the morning. In its release, ISRO said that important flight events, such as burn out of booster rocket stage, ignition of the second stage solid rocket, functioning of Scramjet engines for 5 seconds followed by burn out of the second stage took place exactly as planned. After a flight of 5 minutes, the vehicle touched down in the Bay of Bengal.

The current generation Brahmos is propelled using a liquid-fueled ramjet engine, making it possible for the missile propel forward at up to Mach 3 – the fastest for a cruise missile in the world today.