Skyroot's Raman-II Rocket Engine Successfully Tested at ISRO Facility

Hyderabad-based space startup, Skyroot, achieved a significant milestone as its Raman-II rocket engine was successfully tested at the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Propulsion Complex (IPRC) in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.

The test, which took place on Friday at the Liquid Thruster Test Facility (LTTF), demonstrated the engine's capability to generate 820 Newton (Sea Level) and 1,460 Newton (Vacuum) thrust, with a nominal chamber pressure of 8.5 bar absolute.

The regeneratively cooled engine, developed using additive manufacturing techniques, employs Mono Methyl Hydrazine and Nitrogen Tetroxide as propellants. During the 10-second duration test, the Raman-II engine exhibited the expected performance in terms of start transient, steady state, and shut-off, as stated by ISRO in their official statement.

Skyroot plans to integrate the Raman-II engine into the fourth stage of its launch vehicle, Vikram-I. The test facility systems performed normally, meeting the engine's inlet conditions at T0, and the instrumentation systems also delivered as expected, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the test results.

ISRO's facilitation of such private players and start-ups like Skyroot showcases the space agency's commitment to nurturing the country's space ecosystem with the involvement of Non-Government Entities (NGEs). Moving forward, additional tests are scheduled to further validate and refine the capabilities of the Raman-II engine.