ISRO ‘Air Breathing Rocket’ uses Chennai technology
On Monday, India will launch its first commercial satellite - an Italian one called Agile. But there are several other firsts ISRO is attempting. With the help of small manufacturers, ISRO has been working on the ‘Air Breathing Rocket’ for the last few years.
At a small factory in Chennai, the first of an important component of India’s space programme has been manufactured - the first motor that will be used for the ‘Air Breathing Rocket’. ISRO intends to test this sometime in January next year.
All rockets carry fuel and oxidiser - a chemical that supplies oxygen needed to burn fuel and fire the rocket. Carrying it on board makes it heavier and costlier. But in an Air Breathing Rocket that ISRO has been working on for a few years, they are attempting to make a rocket that will use the oxygen available in the atmosphere itself, quite like an aeroplane.
This is a very complex technology but, if successful, can prove to be very cost-effective.
“If you really prove this technology, you don’t need to carry an oxidiser at all. So you are able to enhance the capability of your payloads as well as bring down the cost considerably.All over the world, space faring nations are attempting to move in this direction.” said BN Suresh, Director, VSSC.
According to ISRO, America has done a few successful tests with air breathing technology, but no country uses it on a regular basis operationally. Till Thursday, the manufacturer who supplied the motor did not even know what it was for. However, this motor is the first in a long series of tests towards a new and promising rocket technology. Source: NDTV
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