KVD-1 Cryogenic engine
BANGALORE, OCT 28 - PTI has reported that India has completed qualification of indigenously-developed powerful cryogenic engine used in rockets to launch satellites in geostationary orbits, 36,000 kms above the earth, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said.
"We have completed the qualification of indigenous cryogenic engines", ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair said, delivering the thirty-second foundation day lecture on `Space Technology Development - Management Perspective' at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.
The indigenous cryogenic upper stage (engine) has been developed to replace Russian-supplied cryogenic stage in the GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle).
"It (cryogenic engine developed by India) is as good as the Russian one", Nair said adding ISRO would soon flight-test the engine.
The cryogenic upper stage (CUS) is designed to deliver about 7.5 tons of thrust. Ground qualification included some 4,000 sec. of cumulative hot-fire tests.
The Whole Truth
Work on developing a cryogenic engine was initiated shortly after the project to develop the Geostationary Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) was launched in 1986. The GSLV is capable of placing a 2 ton satellite into a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).
Initially ISRO scientists attempted to develop a cryogenic engine on their own. However, having made no progress, in 1991 ISRO entered into a $120 million contract with Glavkosmos for the supply of two KVD-1 cryogenic engines and the complete transfer of technology for those engines.
The KVD-1 is the one and only oxygen/hydrogen liquid-propellant rocket engine in Russia known to have passed through full-scale ground testing routine. KVD-1's prototype known as 11D56 was developed between 1965-1972 by the Design Bureau of Chemical Machine-Building ( KB Khimmash) for the fourth stage of a future version of heavy Lunar N-1 launch vehicle. Bench trials of the engine commenced in 1966.
The KVD-1 engine is a single-chambered unit with a turbopump system designed to feed propellants; and includes afterburning: a feature characteristic of any powerful Russian liquid-propellant rocket engine design. The engine can be used in cryogenic upper stages designed to put payloads into high-altitude elliptical, geostationary orbits or escape trajectories.
US Sanctions
In 1993 the US leaned on Russia to cancel its contract with ISRO and stop any transfer of technology for developing cryogenic engines, citing violation of the MTCR regime. Indeed, the US imposed sanctions on both Glavkosmos as well as ISRO for the violation. The then Russian president, Boris Yelstin, yielded to American pressure and directed Glavkosmos to renegotiate its contract with ISRO to exclude transfer of technology. The renegotaited contract provisioned only for outright sale of two KVD-1 engines. Satisfied, the Americans lifted sanctions on Glavkosmos and ISRO.
Despite the renegotiation, in the years that followed, ISRO continued to exude confidence in its ability to develop the cryogenic engine on its own. Some of the confidence stemmed from the fact that significant elements of the manufacturing know-how needed to design and construct cryogenic engines had in fact been already transferred to India by 1993 when the contract was renegotiated. In March 1994, Dr. U. R. Rao of ISRO admitted that ISRO would benefit from design drawings and other information obtained under the original contract and from the extensive training that its engineers received in Russia. The continued presence of Russian space technicians at ISRO in connection with the outright supply of the two KVD-1 engines provided ISRO a conduit to the source of KVD-1 technology.
However, despite its confidence ISRO faltered when it was faced with the production of special alloys and high-speed turbines required for cryogenic fuels and it became evident that delays in the production of the KVD-1 derivative would affect the GSLV launch schedule. Consequently, in December 2001 India entered into an agreement with Khrunichev Space Centre for supply of five additional KVD-1 engines for its GSLV programe.
When Khrunichev announced its deal with ISRO it also stated that Russia and India would collaborate on further development of the booster. The statement seems to suggest that Khrunichev will continue assisting ISRO with the development of its CUS
Conclusion
ISRO projection of the CUS development as a totally indigenous effort is in poor taste but in all likelihood dictated by political expediency of not treading on American sensibilities.
What is commendable is the determination that ISRO has shown in single mindedly pursuing its goal and finally achieving them. The substantial Russian help notwithstanding, there can be little doubt that ISRO has now acquired the technology to develop cryogenic rocket engines. However, the technology has not yet been validated. The time for back slapping will only come after a successful launch of a GSLV Mk II equipped with a CUS. Hopefully, this will take place in 2006-2007.
Ref:
ESA
NTI
GSLV