Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Dhawan II engine

Mains level: Privatization of space activities

dhawan

In Telangana, private space vehicle company Skyroot Aerospace has test-fired its 3D-printed Dhawan II engine.

Dhawan II Engine

The Dhawan II engine is a cryogenic engine developed by Skyroot Aerospace for use as the upper stage of the updated version of their Vikram II rocket.
The engine was recently test-fired for a duration of 200 seconds and demonstrated impressive performance results.
Cryogenic engines use extremely cold liquid propellants, which can provide greater thrust and enhance the payload-carrying capacity of a rocket.
The engine was developed using advanced technologies like 3D printing and green propellants.
Its successful testing marks a significant milestone for Skyroot Aerospace in their efforts to become the first private launcher from South Asia.

Stipulated use

The Dhawan II engine will be used as the upper stage of the updated version Vikram-2.
Using a cryogenic upper stage instead of a solid fuel stage enhances the payload carrying capacity of a rocket.
The updated Vikram II rocket is scheduled to become launch-ready by next year, making Skyroot the first private launcher from South Asia.

Skyroot carried out its first sub-orbital flight in November 2021, using a single-stage solid fuel Vikram S rocket.
The company plans to carry out its first orbital flight by the end of this year using the updated Vikram II rocket.
The Vikram-1 rocket, the first in the series of rockets being developed by Skyroot, will use three solid-fuel stages to take satellites to orbit.

The endurance test of Dhawan-II demonstrated impressive performance results.
The company is proud to be at the forefront of developing cutting-edge cryogenic technologies in the private space sector of India.