Context:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully carried out the second experimental flight to demonstrate Air Breathing Propulsion Technology.
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The propulsion systems were symmetrically mounted on either side of a RH-560 Sounding Rocket and launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota on July 22.
- Sounding rockets are one or two stage solid propellant rockets used for probing the upper atmospheric regions and for space research.
- Currently, three versions are offered as operational sounding rockets:
- RH-200
- RH-300-Mk-II
- RH-560-MK-II
- The RH-560, the largest of the three, served as the platform for this experiment due to its capacity to carry heavier payloads.
- RH-560 is a two-stage, solid motor based sub-orbital rocket that is designed to be utilised as a cost-effective flying test bed for the demonstration of advanced technologies.
- Prior to the mission, multiple ground tests were carried out at the various ISRO Centres including Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) & ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) and also at the CSIR -National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL), Bengaluru.
- Nearly 110 parameters were monitored during the flight to assess its performance.
What is Air Breathing Propulsion Technology?
- Unlike conventional rocket engines that carry both fuel and oxidizer, air-breathing engines utilize oxygen from the atmosphere as an oxidizer.
How it works:
- The engine intakes air from the atmosphere.
- This air is compressed and mixed with fuel.
- The mixture is ignited, producing thrust.
Key components of an air-breathing engine:
- Intake: Collects air from the atmosphere.
- Compressor: Increases air pressure (in some types of engines).
- Combustion chamber: Where fuel is burned.
- Turbine: Extracts energy from the hot exhaust gases to drive the compressor (in turbojet and turbofan engines).
- Nozzle: Accelerates the exhaust gases to produce thrust.
Types of air-breathing engines:
- Ramjet: Simplest form, relies on the vehicle’s speed to compress incoming air.
- Scramjet: Operates at supersonic speeds, allowing for higher efficiency.
Advantages of this technology:
- Reduced weight: Eliminating the need to carry onboard oxidizer significantly reduces the launch vehicle’s mass.
- Increased payload capacity: The weight savings translate to a larger payload that can be carried into space.
- Enhanced efficiency: By leveraging atmospheric oxygen, air-breathing engines can potentially achieve higher specific impulse, a measure of engine efficiency.