SDSC-SHAR/ISRO, Sriharikota, assisted the static testing of the S2 motor of the Kalam-250 Rocket, which was conceived and constructed by an Indian space start-up, M/s Skyroot Aerospace, Hyderabad, using SDSC’s propulsion testbed. IN-SPACe enabled the test. SDSC SHAR provided a complete technical assessment and feasibility research, ultimately selecting the 6A-High Capacity test bed for test execution. VSSC/ISRO donated its in-house built head-mounted safe arm (HMSA) for the test, which is critical for assuring the rocket stage’s safe operation.
How the Skyroot Kalam-250 engine test went?
Following delivery of the test article, comprehensive assessments were carried out, including Nondestructive Testing (NDT), to confirm motor integrity. After the motor alignment, in-situ thrust calibration, and Flex Nozzle Control (FNC) Actuation trials on the test bed, meticulous integration activities were carried out. A wide range of instrumentation systems were used, with around 196 measurements taken across various parameters such as thrust, pressure, strain, temperature, heat flow, acoustics, vibration, displacement, and pyrotechnics.
SDSC-SHAR assistance included post-fire quenching systems, high-speed photography, and video capture, resulting in a full test environment. The test was completed successfully on March 27, 2024, following extensive technical assessments and clearances. All testbed systems, including instrumentation, operated within normal parameters, demonstrating the test’s safety and efficacy.
To facilitate the next orbital space launch, M/s. Skyroot Aerospace was provided with digital data, including high-speed camera photos, in accordance with the conditions of the MOU and Joint Project Implementation Plan (JPIP). This funding demonstrates ISRO‘s dedication to supporting scientific developments and facilitating innovative undertakings by non-governmental organizations in the aerospace domain.
Skyroot previously successfully tested the Kalam-100, Vikram-1‘s third stage, in June 2021. The successful firing of Stage-2, a critical component in the launch vehicle’s transfer from the Earth’s atmosphere to outer space, is a huge accomplishment for the Indian space industry.
Pawan Chandana, Co-Founder and CEO of Skyroot Aerospace, expressed his excitement about the test’s success, saying, “This is a significant milestone for the Indian space industry, marking the successful test of the largest propulsion system ever designed and manufactured by the Indian private sector so far, as well as the first carbon-composite-built motor tested at ISRO.”