An indigenously developed green propulsion system has successfully demonstrated in orbit functionality on a payload launched under a key mission the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said describing it as a big leap in space defence technology.
The propulsion system has been developed under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme of the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation). The Ministry said the innovation technology has resulted in a non-toxic and environment friendly propulsion system for low orbit.
In a big leap in space and defence technology, a green propulsion system developed under the TDF successfully demonstrated in orbit functionality, the ministry said in a statement. “It has successfully demonstrated an in-orbit functionality on a payload launched from the PSLV-C58 mission.
The project-1N class green monopropellant thruster for altitude control and orbit keeping of micro-satellite was sanctioned to a Bengaluru based startup Bellatrix Aerospace Private Limited,” it said. The telemetry data from the PSLV orbital experimental module at the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network in Bengaluru has been validated with ground level solution and is found to have exceeded all performance parameters.
“This innovative technology has resulted in a non-toxic and environment friendly propulsion system for low orbit space. The system consists of indigenously developed propellant, fill and drain valves, latch valves solenoid valve catalyst bed, drive electronics etc., the ministry said. It is ideal for space missions with high thrust requirements, it said
The complete project has been carried out by the development agency under the guidance of project monitoring and mentoring group of the DRDO. The TDF is a flagship programme of the defence ministry which is being executed by the DRDO under the “Make in India” initiative for funding innovation in defence and aerospace especially to startups and MSME’s
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