ISRO successfully tested a full-scale gas generator for its 1,100 kN LOX-methane rocket engine on 9 October. This engine will power the Next Generation Launch Vehicle for heavy-lift missions. ISRO said the engine is targeted for mid-2027 readiness. Many parts used additive manufacturing to help make the rocket more affordable.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted the first ignition test of a full-scale gas generator for its 1,100 kN liquid oxygen-methane rocket engine on 9 October, the space agency said on Friday (16 October).
The milestone represents a critical advancement in the development of the LME1100 engine, which will power India's Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) designed for heavy-lift missions and future lunar exploration.
The gas generator, realised through additive manufacturing, underwent extensive sub-scale testing at laboratory level before the full-scale ignition trial.
Engineers derived precise ignition sequences using a spark torch igniter and characterised the additively manufactured injector elements during the testing process.
A series of similar tests are now planned to evaluate the component's performance under different operating conditions.
ISRO formally initiated development of the LME1100 engine in 2023, focusing on key subsystems including turbopumps, igniters, gas generators and thrust chambers.
The engine is designed around a gas generator cycle that prioritises affordability and manufacturability, with more than 70 per cent of components realised through additive manufacturing in collaboration with Indian industry partners.
The fully integrated LME1100 engine is targeted to be ready by mid-2027 and will undergo a comprehensive series of hot tests to qualify the system for prescribed operating conditions, including various thrust throttling profiles. Methane-fuelled engines offer cleaner combustion, reduced maintenance requirements and improved suitability for reusable launch vehicles compared to traditional propellants.
The NGLV, which will be powered by clusters of LME1100 engines, is expected to deliver a maximum payload capacity of 30 tonnes to low Earth orbit -- three times the capacity of ISRO's current LVM3 rocket.
The partially reusable three-stage vehicle received approval from the Union Cabinet in September 2024 with a total budget of Rs 8,240 crore.
supporting India's ambitions for human spaceflight and crewed lunar landing missions by 2040.
Concurrently, ISRO has also completed the design activities towards the development of a 2400kN LOX-Methane engine, which is based on the Full Flow Staged Combustion Cycle (FFSCC).
The 2400kN engine will enable the development of a future heavy lift human rated launch vehicle for crewed lunar landing missions.