Isro working on reusable spacecraft technology: chairman

After US space shuttle Atlantis made its final touchdown before being retired, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said it was working on India’s own reusable technology. 

"We are also working on developing our own reusable spacecraft, as it will bring down the cost of putting payloads in space," ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan told reporters here on Friday. 

"Our PSLV and GSLV programmes are based on the technology for expendable vehicles. But we are also studying technologies in reusable launch vehicles," Radhakrishnan said. 

In the next two years India would have a technology demonstrator, the Isro chief added. 

He said there were several problems in developing the special materials and fuel for the spacecraft and the launch vehicle during re-entry. 

"We need to develop material for the structure that can be reused." Isro will also perfect the cryogenic engine technology which will be crucial to this project. The agency has been working on this project for the past many years. During 2010, a GSLV launch failed in midair as its main cryogenic engine failed to fire up and go full length. 

"During that flight, the main cryogenic engine was ignited and this was a major achievement. But the ignition did not sustain as the fuel booster turbo component failed. Corrective measures have been taken and it has been redesigned," he said. 

"We need to have the ground testing of the cryogenic engine with the modified fuel booster turbo pump which is planned for the latter part of the year. The flight stage of the cryogenic engine is expected to be ready by March 2012. We will assemble this cryo stage on to the GSLV after satisfactory testing at ground testing stage," Radhakrishnan said, adding that the flight testing would take place in the second quarter of 2012. 

While parallelly working on this technology, the space research agency had also started developing a heavier version of its cryogenic engine for use in its GSLV Mark-III, which can take heavier payloads into orbit. He said, for these technology developments, a major test facility — ‘thrust chamber test’ — was being set up at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu. 

"For the heavier cryogenic engine, Isro has adopted a different cycle. In Mark II it was stage combustion cycle, while for Mark III it will use gas generator cycle. "We aim to complete developing the first version and start developing the heavier engine," he stated.