ISRO announced a breakthrough in rocket engine technology, having developed a lightweight Carbon-Carbon (C-C) nozzle. This innovation, achieved by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), is set to enhance critical parameters of rocket engines, including thrust levels and payload capacity.

ISRO stated that the VSSC in Thiruvananthapuram used advanced Carbon-Carbon (C-C) composites to make a nozzle with top-notch features.

By using methods like carbonising green composites, chemical vapour infiltration, and high-temperature treatment, ISRO has created a lightweight nozzle with strong, durable properties, capable of maintaining its strength even in high temperatures.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/spacex-launches-tata-group-satellite-assembled-and-tested-in-india-709083">Also read |&nbsp;SpaceX launches TATA Group satellite assembled and tested in India</a>

<h2>What's the special feature?</h2>

ISRO mentioned a special feature of the C-C nozzle: it has a coating made of silicon carbide, which helps it work better in environments where oxidation occurs. This makes it stronger against heat and corrosion, allowing it to handle tough conditions.

This improvement is important, especially for ISRO's main rocket, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). Currently, the PS4 stage of the PSLV uses nozzles made of a metal called columbium alloy. But if ISRO switches these out for C-C nozzles, they could make the rocket lighter by about 67 per cent.

This change could let the PSLV carry 15 kg more payload into space, which is a big deal for missions.

Testing the C-C nozzle was a big step for ISRO. They did a 60-second test on March 19, 2024, at the High-Altitude Test (HAT) facility in ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. This test showed that the system works well and the hardware is strong.

Also watch |&nbsp;ISRO Chief S Somanath explains role of India's NavIC satellites; know all about NavIC satellites

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/isro-chief-s-somanath-explains-role-of-indias-navic-satellites-know-all-about-navic-satellites-708995/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Subsequent tests, including a 200-second hot test on April 2, 2024, further validated the nozzle's capabilities, with temperatures reaching 1216 K, matching predictions," the release said.

The teamwork included the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Valiamala near Thiruvananthapuram, which planned and set up the test. The testing and execution happened at the High-Altitude Test (HAT) facility in IPRC, as mentioned.

(With inputs from agencies)

ISRO announced a breakthrough in rocket engine technology, having developed a lightweight Carbon-Carbon (C-C) nozzle. This innovation, achieved by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), is set to enhance critical parameters of rocket engines, including thrust levels and payload capacity.

ISRO announced a breakthrough in rocket engine technology, having developed a lightweight Carbon-Carbon (C-C) nozzle. This innovation, achieved by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), is set to enhance critical parameters of rocket engines, including thrust levels and payload capacity. ISRO stated that the VSSC in Thiruvananthapuram used advanced Carbon-Carbon (C-C) composites to make a nozzle with top-notch features. By using methods like carbonising green composites, chemical vapour infiltration, and high-temperature treatment, ISRO has created a lightweight nozzle with strong, durable properties, capable of maintaining its strength even in high temperatures. Also read | SpaceX launches TATA Group satellite assembled and tested in India What's the special feature? ISRO mentioned a special feature of the C-C nozzle: it has a coating made of silicon carbide, which helps it work better in environments where oxidation occurs. This makes it stronger against heat and corrosion, allowing it to handle tough conditions. This improvement is important, especially for ISRO's main rocket, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). Currently, the PS4 stage of the PSLV uses nozzles made of a metal called columbium alloy. But if ISRO switches these out for C-C nozzles, they could make the rocket lighter by about 67 per cent. This change could let the PSLV carry 15 kg more payload into space, which is a big deal for missions. Testing the C-C nozzle was a big step for ISRO. They did a 60-second test on March 19, 2024, at the High-Altitude Test (HAT) facility in ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. This test showed that the system works well and the hardware is strong. Also watch | ISRO Chief S Somanath explains role of India's NavIC satellites; know all about NavIC satellites "Subsequent tests, including a 200-second hot test on April 2, 2024, further validated the nozzle's capabilities, with temperatures reaching 1216 K, matching predictions," the release said. The teamwork included the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Valiamala near Thiruvananthapuram, which planned and set up the test. The testing and execution happened at the High-Altitude Test (HAT) facility in IPRC, as mentioned. (With inputs from agencies)

ISRO scientists create new lightweight nozzle for rocket engines, call it ‘breakthrough’

India remembers its People’s President and veteran scientist Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on his sixth death anniversary. 
 
For a large number of Indians, Dr Kalam is known as a fisherman’s son-turned-scientist, who rose to the top post. 
 
Fondly remembered as the ‘Missile Man’, Kalam worked for the Indian Government’s aerospace and defence establishments.

But this very ‘Missile Man’ Kalam had a narrow miss from an explosion, during his days as a young scientist with the fledgling Indian Space Research Organization. 
 
This and much more is revealed in veteran ISRO Scientist Padma Bhushan Nambi Narayanan’s autobiography- 'Ready To Fire'.&nbsp; 
 
Watch | WION Gravitas: Who is Nambi Narayanan? All you need to know

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-gravitas-who-is-nambi-narayanan-all-you-need-to-know-6320/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Cut to 1967, ISRO (then known as INCOSPAR) was in its nascent stage and operated out of a small church in the Thumba Fishing hamlet, in Kerala’s capital Thiruvananthapuram.

Most of the scientists working there were young graduates with a drive to experiment and learn as much as they could about a new discipline - Rocket science.

All they had were experimental rockets (known as sounding rockets) that were fired to an altitude of 100kms or less.

Most of these sounding rockets were offered by friendly foreign countries to conduct upper-atmospheric experiments.

For perspective, the sounding rockets of that era are a molehill when compared to the mountains (the PSLV and GSLV series) that ISRO launches today.&nbsp;

While preparing for the launch of one such French Centaure rocket, a gunpowder-based igniter was being made by an ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan.

Once at the right altitude, the igniter would trigger a small explosion and release the rocket’s chemical payload into the atmosphere, thus helping conduct the experiment.

However, one day before the launch, Narayanan came across a scientific principle that their gunpowder would not fire at the height of 100km.

When Narayanan apprised Kalam of the same, he initially refused to accept it. But later, on Narayanan’s persuasion, the duo went on to test the theory.&nbsp;

The duo set up a contraption where a sealed jar of gunpowder was connected to a vacuum pump (to create upper atmosphere-like thin air and low pressure). Multiple attempts were made to ignite it, but the 1942 theory by scientists Able and Noble was dead right!

Wanting to see up-close, this phenomenon of gunpowder behaving in an inert manner, a young Kalam poked his nose into the gunpowder-laden jar. The countdown had started and the assistant was ready to ignite the gunpowder, but that’s when Nambi Narayanan realized that the vacuum pump was not properly connected to the jar.

This meant that the gunpowder would explode as usual.

Within a second, Nambi Narayanan leapt across and pushed Kalam down to safety, before a blast rocked the room and glass splinters flew all across. After the smoke had settled, Kalam sat up and told Nambi, "See, it fired". This was how the young duo proved that Able and Noble were right and also that gunpowder would fire at normal pressure.&nbsp;

While Abdul Kalam later went on to work in various roles in ISRO, DRDO, and other government organizations, Nambi Narayanan went on to become the Father of Liquid Propulsion Rocket Engine Technology in India.

Narayanan and his team had developed the Vikas Engine (which was based on the French Viking engine)-a pioneering piece of technology that is still a crucial part of the PSLV and GSLV rockets even today.

It is noteworthy that Kalam was a proponent of solid-propulsion (using solid fuels) whereas Nambi Narayanan was a proponent of liquid-propellant rockets. Nambi always believed that India had to focus on liquid propulsion, in order to build heavy-lift capability rockets.

Eventually, Nambi’s expertise and foresight in liquid propulsion proved right and gave birth to India’s PSLV and GSLV rockets, whereas Kalam’s expertise in solid propulsion gave India its arsenal of missiles.

Nambi Narayanan was heading India’s Cryogenic engine development programme in 1994 when he was wrongly jailed and tortured by the Kerala Police and Intelligence bureau.

This was a fabricated spy case, known as the ISRO spy case. The Supreme Court of India had cleared Nambi of all charges and the government of India had awarded him the Padma Bhushan. The investigation into a larger conspiracy by the Kerala Police (during the then Congress-led Govt) and Intelligence Bureau officials is underway today.

India remembers its People’s President and veteran scientist Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on his sixth death anniversary. For a large number of Indians, Dr Kalam is known as a fisherman’s son-turned-scientist, who rose to the top post.

India remembers its People’s President and veteran scientist Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on his sixth death anniversary. For a large number of Indians, Dr Kalam is known as a fisherman’s son-turned-scientist, who rose to the top post. Fondly remembered as the ‘Missile Man’, Kalam worked for the Indian Government’s aerospace and defence establishments. But this very ‘Missile Man’ Kalam had a narrow miss from an explosion, during his days as a young scientist with the fledgling Indian Space Research Organization. This and much more is revealed in veteran ISRO Scientist Padma Bhushan Nambi Narayanan’s autobiography- 'Ready To Fire'. Watch | WION Gravitas: Who is Nambi Narayanan? All you need to know Cut to 1967, ISRO (then known as INCOSPAR) was in its nascent stage and operated out of a small church in the Thumba Fishing hamlet, in Kerala’s capital Thiruvananthapuram. Most of the scientists working there were young graduates with a drive to experiment and learn as much as they could about a new discipline - Rocket science. All they had were experimental rockets (known as sounding rockets) that were fired to an altitude of 100kms or less. Most of these sounding rockets were offered by friendly foreign countries to conduct upper-atmospheric experiments. For perspective, the sounding rockets of that era are a molehill when compared to the mountains (the PSLV and GSLV series) that ISRO launches today. While preparing for the launch of one such French Centaure rocket, a gunpowder-based igniter was being made by an ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan. Once at the right altitude, the igniter would trigger a small explosion and release the rocket’s chemical payload into the atmosphere, thus helping conduct the experiment. However, one day before the launch, Narayanan came across a scientific principle that their gunpowder would not fire at the height of 100km. When Narayanan apprised Kalam of the same, he initially refused to accept it. But later, on Narayanan’s persuasion, the duo went on to test the theory. The duo set up a contraption where a sealed jar of gunpowder was connected to a vacuum pump (to create upper atmosphere-like thin air and low pressure). Multiple attempts were made to ignite it, but the 1942 theory by scientists Able and Noble was dead right! Wanting to see up-close, this phenomenon of gunpowder behaving in an inert manner, a young Kalam poked his nose into the gunpowder-laden jar. The countdown had started and the assistant was ready to ignite the gunpowder, but that’s when Nambi Narayanan realized that the vacuum pump was not properly connected to the jar. This meant that the gunpowder would explode as usual. Within a second, Nambi Narayanan leapt across and pushed Kalam down to safety, before a blast rocked the room and glass splinters flew all across. After the smoke had settled, Kalam sat up and told Nambi, "See, it fired". This was how the young duo proved that Able and Noble were right and also that gunpowder would fire at normal pressure. While Abdul Kalam later went on to work in various roles in ISRO, DRDO, and other government organizations, Nambi Narayanan went on to become the Father of Liquid Propulsion Rocket Engine Technology in India. Narayanan and his team had developed the Vikas Engine (which was based on the French Viking engine)-a pioneering piece of technology that is still a crucial part of the PSLV and GSLV rockets even today. It is noteworthy that Kalam was a proponent of solid-propulsion (using solid fuels) whereas Nambi Narayanan was a proponent of liquid-propellant rockets. Nambi always believed that India had to focus on liquid propulsion, in order to build heavy-lift capability rockets. Eventually, Nambi’s expertise and foresight in liquid propulsion proved right and gave birth to India’s PSLV and GSLV rockets, whereas Kalam’s expertise in solid propulsion gave India its arsenal of missiles. Nambi Narayanan was heading India’s Cryogenic engine development programme in 1994 when he was wrongly jailed and tortured by the Kerala Police and Intelligence bureau. This was a fabricated spy case, known as the ISRO spy case. The Supreme Court of India had cleared Nambi of all charges and the government of India had awarded him the Padma Bhushan. The investigation into a larger conspiracy by the Kerala Police (during the then Congress-led Govt) and Intelligence Bureau officials is underway today.

When scientist Nambi Narayanan saved Dr APJ Abdul Kalam's life at an ISRO lab

PM Modi lauds the work of ISRO scientists, ''There are no failures in science''

I understand, I'm with you: PM Modi's top quotes from moving address to ISRO scientists

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated ISRO&nbsp;scientists for the successful launch of EMISAT satellite.&nbsp;

Modi was addressing an election rally in Wardha, Maharashtra.&nbsp;

''I would like to congratulate our space scientists and ISRO for their achievement. By successfully launching PSL-VC45, more than 2 dozen of satellites from five&nbsp;countries were sent to space,'' Modi said.

Modi called the successful&nbsp;EMISAT satellite launch a ''historic leap''.&nbsp;

Earlier when satellites were launched only a select few were able to watch it, Modi said and added, ''to create an interest for science and sense of respect towards our scientists we took an important decision and&nbsp;whenever such launches happen, seating arrangements will be made for common people''.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated ISRO scientists for the successful launch of EMISAT satellite. Modi was addressing an election rally in Wardha, Maharashtra.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated ISRO scientists for the successful launch of EMISAT satellite. Modi was addressing an election rally in Wardha, Maharashtra. ''I would like to congratulate our space scientists and ISRO for their achievement. By successfully launching PSL-VC45, more than 2 dozen of satellites from five countries were sent to space,'' Modi said. Modi called the successful EMISAT satellite launch a ''historic leap''. Earlier when satellites were launched only a select few were able to watch it, Modi said and added, ''to create an interest for science and sense of respect towards our scientists we took an important decision and whenever such launches happen, seating arrangements will be made for common people''.

PM Modi lauds ISRO scientists for the successful launch of EMISAT satellite

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ISRO scientists create new lightweight nozzle for rocket engines, call it ‘breakthrough’

When scientist Nambi Narayanan saved Dr APJ Abdul Kalam's life at an ISRO lab

PM Modi lauds the work of ISRO scientists, ''There are no failures in science''

I understand, I'm with you: PM Modi's top quotes from moving address to ISRO scientists

PM Modi lauds ISRO scientists for the successful launch of EMISAT satellite