Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Hybrid Rocket

Mains level: India's success in rocketry

rocket

India’s first hybrid sounding rocket by private players was launched by some students from Pattipulam village off Tamil Nadu coast.

About APJ Abdul Kalam SLV

Martin Foundation in association with Dr APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation and Space Zone India successfully completed the project known as Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite Launch Vehicle Mission 2023.
The student team included 200 from the fishermen community in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, 100 students from tribal communities across India, and 60 from Tamil Nadu.

What is a Hybrid Rocket?

A hybrid rocket is a type of rocket engine that combines features of both liquid-fueled and solid-fueled rockets. In a hybrid rocket, a solid fuel is burned in combination with a liquid or gaseous oxidizer to produce thrust.
The solid fuel in a hybrid rocket is typically made of a polymer, such as hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB), which is cast into a cylindrical shape and placed inside the rocket motor.
The oxidizer, which is typically nitrous oxide (N2O), is stored in a separate tank and fed into the combustion chamber of the rocket motor.

When the oxidizer is introduced into the combustion chamber, it reacts with the solid fuel, producing a hot gas that is expelled through a nozzle at the end of the rocket.
The combustion process can be controlled by adjusting the flow rate of the oxidizer, making hybrid rockets more controllable than solid rockets.

Hybrid rockets are generally simpler and less expensive to manufacture than liquid rockets, while providing more control than solid rockets.
They are also safer than both liquid and solid rockets, since the fuel and oxidizer are stored separately and can be easily shut off in case of an emergency.