ISRO Scientists Demonstrate World-First Boot-Strap Start for CE20 Cryogenic Engine
- MM24 News Desk
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Credit: ISRO
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) engineers have successfully demonstrated a boot-start mode ignition for the CE20 cryogenic engine, potentially marking a world-first achievement for a gas-generator cycle cryogenic engine.
The test, conducted on November 7, 2025, paves the way for future LVM3 rockets to perform multiple in-flight restarts without heavy auxiliary systems, significantly enhancing India's mission flexibility.
For rocket scientists, achieving a smooth engine start in the vacuum of space is a complex ballet of pressure, temperature, and precise timing. Now, imagine getting that engine to restart itself mid-flight without any external help.
This is the "boot-strap" challenge that ISRO has seemingly conquered, a breakthrough that could redefine the capabilities of India's most powerful launch vehicle. The successful test moves the country's space-faring ambitions into a new league of mission design.
The CE20 cryogenic engine is the powerhouse of the LVM3 rocket's upper stage, already proven for single-start missions like launching Chandrayaan-3 and qualified for upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflights. But what about missions that require a rocket to drop off satellites in two different orbits, or to adjust its trajectory days after launch?
Traditionally, each in-flight restart of a cryogenic engine has demanded a heavy price: additional start-up gas bottles and complex systems that steal precious payload capacity from the rocket.
This is why the boot-strap mode is so revolutionary. "For future missions, multiple in-flight restarts of the CE20 engine will be required for mission flexibility towards multi-orbit missions," stated ISRO in its official release.
The newly demonstrated technique elegantly solves the payload penalty problem by allowing the engine to build up to steady operation entirely on its own, reported ISRO, eliminating the need for those cumbersome external start-up systems.
The landmark test was executed at the High-Altitude Test (HAT) facility at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri. For a critical 10 seconds under simulated vacuum conditions, engineers watched as the engine came to life autonomously.
A multi-element igniter was used in both the thrust chamber and gas generator. Following the initial thrust chamber ignition, the gas generator was lit, which then spun up the turbopumps under natural tank pressure—all without the stored gas start-up system that was previously a crutch.
With this achievement, ISRO has not just improved an engine; it has added a powerful new tool to its deep-space exploration kit. The ability to restart reliably in space opens up a universe of possibilities, from complex commercial satellite deployments to ambitious interplanetary missions.
This innovation ensures that future versions of the LVM3, the workhorse of India's space program, will be more versatile and capable than ever before, carrying heavier payloads on more complex journeys into the final frontier.
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