With the need for lightweight and efficient satellite launch vehicles, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will conduct flight tests for air-breathing rocket systems which use atmospheric oxygen rather than conventional chemical rocket systems which carry oxygen and fuel on-board, early next year.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle on the sidelines of the PSLV C21 launch (India’s 100th space mission) on Sunday, P.S. Veeraraghavan, director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), said Isro would conduct flight tests with the use of sounding rockets to develop air-breathing rocket systems early next year.
“We have started conducting some ground tests and next we will have some more flight tests at Sriharikota range,” he said.
As a result of the air-breathing system, the satellite launch vehicle becomes lighter and more efficient, which leads to reduced overall costs, Veeraraghavan added.
Asked about the efforts of Isro to identify various other sites for its space operations, the VSSC director said the space agency had in the past examined sites at Balasore, in Odisha, and other defence launching stations in the country, but as Shar had all necessary facilities, it dropped the plan for an alternative site.
“We are going to build another vehicle assembly building at Shar so that we can increase the number of launches and we are yet to decide on the third launch pad. However, it will come up at Shar. Isro has also planned to augment facilities and revamp existing facilities at VSSC to develop more launch vehicles,” Veeraraghavan added.