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ISRO shares a detailed update on its LOX-Methane engine programme, the propulsion planned for the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) and for the future heavy-lift vehicle for India's crewed lunar landing (target 2040). Why methane? - Clean combustion - Low maintenance, which helps reusability - Can be made on Mars from CO2 + water ice, which helps future Mars missions and human settlement LM20-TD: the demonstrator (2019–2020) - 20-tonne thrust technology demonstrator built from existing CE-20 cryogenic engine subsystems - Converted to LOX-CH4 by modifying the propellant flow control and engine start-up systems - Gas generator cycle, with thrust chamber, fuel-rich GG, LOX & fuel turbopumps, igniter, and a mixture ratio control valve with electric drive - Test sequence worked out with an in-house mathematical model - 1 cold flow + 5 hot tests at IPRC - Gave key data on chill-down, ignition, engine start, combustion and rotor-dynamics LME1100: the main engine (started 2023) - 1100 kN thrust, Gas Generator Cycle - Designed to be industry-friendly and cost-effective - Over 70% of components made by additive manufacturing (3D printing) with industry partners across India Gas Generator - 3D printed, in qualification tests at IPRC - Sub-scale GG tests worked out the ignition sequence with a spark torch igniter and tested the 3D-printed injector elements - First ignition test of the full-scale GG on October 9, 2026, with more tests planned Thrust Chamber - Sub-scale hot test campaign at IPRC - Proved the new manufacturing methods planned for the full-scale chamber - Settled the best injector configuration - Showed both oxidiser-rich and fuel-rich spark torch igniters working Turbopumps - LOX and methane turbopumps made by Indian industry - 3D-printed LOX pump impeller spin-tested at LPSC up to its rated speed - Seals and bearings in qualification at LPSC and IPRC - Cold flow tests of the integrated turbopumps ongoing at IPRC Ignition systems - GOX-GCH4 spark torch igniters, oxidiser-rich and fuel-rich - Semiconductor spark plug igniter (LPSC + VSSC + IIST) - Laser ignition, demonstrated with GOX-GH2 and GOX-GCH4 What's next - Integrated LME1100 engine ready by mid-2027, followed by a hot test series including different thrust throttling profiles - Design completed for a 2400 kN Full Flow Staged Combustion Cycle (FFSCC) engine, meant for a future human-rated heavy-lift launch vehicle for crewed lunar landing missions Source: https://t.co/sXzrx0ej9D #ISRO #LOXMethane #LME1100 #NGLV #IndianSpace