President hails ISRO for testing scramjet engine

President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for successfully testing the scramjet engine.

In a message to ISRO Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar, the President said: "I extend my hearty congratulations to you and your entire team for the successful conduct of Futuristic Rocket Test - Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV)."

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.

"The launch marks an important landmark in our space programme and demonstrates, yet again, India's capabilities in space launch technology. With this test, India has joined the select club of nations which have the technology of air breathing engines," Mukherjee said.

"The nation is proud of this achievement," he added.

The ISRO said: "With this flight, critical technologies such as ignition of air breathing engines at supersonic speed, holding the flame at supersonic speed, air intake mechanism and fuel injection systems have been successfully demonstrated."

The scramjet engine designed by ISRO uses hydrogen as fuel and the oxygen from the atmospheric air as the oxidiser.

--IANS

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